The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Benue State Government through the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA), has commenced a two-day Full-Scale Flood Disaster Response Simulation Exercise in Benue State. The exercise, code-named “MWAR UMA,” meaning Saving Lives, is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, the World Bank and other development partners.
It was declared open on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, by Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Mimidoo K. Kadev, at the Fr. Alia Conference Hall, Benue-SEMA Headquarters in Makurdi.
Governor Alia thanked NEMA and the development partners for strengthening the state’s preparedness and response capacity through the practical exercise. He noted that flooding remains a major hazard in Benue due to its extensive river systems, floodplains, seasonal rainfall and settlements around waterways. He further highlighted his administration’s ongoing interventions, including the construction of canals, drainage systems and roads, aimed at reducing flooding and protecting lives and livelihoods.
The Governor stressed that effective flood management requires strong coordination among government institutions, emergency responders, security agencies, traditional and community leaders, development partners and the affected communities. He therefore urged participants to take the simulation exercise seriously and use it to identify gaps and strengthen response mechanisms.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Benue-SEMA, Sir James Iorpuu, PhD, represented by the Head of Administration, Mr. Atii Samuel Atii, welcomed the NEMA delegation, representatives of UNDP, UNICEF, World Bank and other participants. He commended NEMA for its efforts to strengthen flood preparedness through awareness, simulation exercises and community engagement, noting that improved coordination would enhance the state’s ability to save lives and protect property during emergencies.
The Acting Zonal Director, North-Central Zone of NEMA, Mr. Suleiman Muhammad, who led the exercise, said the simulation was designed to improve early warning, early response, search and rescue, evacuation and coordination among responders. He explained that the exercise would also familiarize participants with the bottom-up emergency response approach, beginning with Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), State Emergency Management Agencies and, where necessary, escalating to NEMA at the Federal level.
In a goodwill message, the representative of UNDP, Dr. Sunday Andorbe Amama, commended NEMA for its leadership and technical professionalism in strengthening disaster preparedness, emergency response and resilience across Nigeria. He described the exercise as a practical demonstration of the value of strong partnerships and collective commitment to disaster resilience.
The two-day exercise features technical sessions and presentations on the 2026 Climate-Related Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Strategy, safety concerns in search and rescue and evacuation in flood waters, as well as panel discussions. Participants include officials of NEMA and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Benue-SEMA, Federal and State MDAs, security agencies, emergency responders, humanitarian and development organisations, traditional rulers, community leaders, LEMC representatives and other critical stakeholders.
