By, Olawale Ogunbusola

The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has urged Nigerians to prioritize environmental safety and personal responsibility in the face of rising climate change risks.

She made the call on Thursday during the 2026 National Preparedness and Response Campaign, held to strengthen community resilience ahead of the rainy season.

Represented by the South West Zonal Director, Saheed Akiode, she noted that disasters can only be effectively managed when communities are informed, prepared, and actively involved in prevention and response.

“Experiences have shown repeatedly that disasters are better managed when communities are adequately informed, prepared and actively involved in prevention and response efforts,” she stated.

“The essence of this campaign is not merely to disseminate information, but to strengthen community resilience through awareness creation, early warning dissemination, and environmental responsibility,” Umar added.

Umar expressed concern over the scale of damage caused by flooding across the country, warning that only proactive measures could reduce the impact. She said forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency had projected varying levels of flood risk in many states.

“NiMET’s seasonal climate prediction and NIHSA’s Annual Flood Outlook have projected varying levels of flood risks in many states, including Osun, Oyo, and Lagos in the South West,” she said. “We must cooperate and collaborate with all stakeholders in advancing disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness.”

The NEMA DG cautioned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, unregulated construction along waterways, poor urban planning, and deforestation. She stressed that such practices worsen flood risks and undermine early warning efforts.

“Disaster risk reduction can only be effective if everybody makes it their responsibility,” Umar said. “We will continue to provide early warning, support community-based risk reduction, coordinate stakeholders, and strengthen capacity for local preparedness.”

She also called on governments at all levels to improve basic infrastructure that reduces environmental vulnerability, including drainage systems and flood control channels.

Umar commended the co-operation of South West governors, especially the Osun State government, as well as the State Emergency Management Agency, Osun State Environmental Protection Agency, traditional institutions, community leaders, schools, youth groups, and security agencies.

“Everybody in Nigeria must work toward environmental resilience for a prosperous socio-economic development,” she said.

In her remarks, the Head of Operations for NEMA in Osun State, Bukola Aderibigbe, commended the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its support and funding of environmental and disaster management programmes.

She urged state and local governments to enact policies and laws that promote environmental risk reduction and sustained public sensitization for an eco-friendly society.