The federal government, in collaboration with UN agencies, has unveiled a pilot anticipatory action simulation exercise in flood-prone communities of Adamawa, aimed at reducing the impact of flooding in Nigeria.

The four-day exercise commenced on Monday in Kwanta community, Numan Local Government Area.

An anticipatory flood exercise is a simulation designed to test and improve a community’s preparedness and response to potential flood events.

It involves practicing evacuation procedures, utilising early warning systems, and coordinating with emergency services and humanitarian actors to minimise the impact of flooding

The initiative is jointly organised by the Office of the Vice President, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Akeem Ajibola, programme policy officer at WFP, noted the importance of early preparedness to minimise the impact of anticipated floods.

“This pilot initiative, coordinated by the Anticipatory Action Taskforce in collaboration with departmental partners, is the first of its kind.

“It is designed to test early warning systems and safeguard lives and livelihoods in flood-prone communities across the country.

“WFP, FAO and other UN agencies are working closely with the Nigerian government to activate early warning systems and ensure timely action to prevent avoidable losses,” he said.

Mr Ajibola disclosed that an anticipatory action framework had been developed in partnership with the Nigerian government and would be deployed ahead of the 2025 flood season.

Also speaking, Inna Audu, special assistant to the president on humanitarian affairs and development partners, described the initiative as a shift in the federal government’s approach to disaster risk management.

“The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu is prioritising disaster preparedness.

“This pilot simulation marks the beginning of a national effort to equip communities with the appropriate protocols for rescue operations and safety,” she said.

Mr Audu further revealed that the federal government had approved N80 billion for the federal ministry of water resources and sanitation to address structural challenges affecting dams across the country.

She noted that support would also be extended to vulnerable populations through a conditional cash transfer scheme to aid relocation and mitigate the impact of flooding.

On her part, Ciline Laori, permanent secretary of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), outlined the simulation as a milestone in the state’s disaster response efforts.

“This is a practical step towards saving lives. We are working with federal agencies and development partners to implement the protocols effectively.

“People must understand the risks and respond to early warnings. It is a matter of life and death,” she said.

Chairman of Lamurde Local Government Area, Bulus Daniel, commended the federal government and its partners for initiating the exercise.

He said the training and knowledge gained would greatly reduce the effects of flooding in the affected communities.

Mr Daniel also appealed to the federal government to complement the simulation with long-term structural measures, including the desilting of the River Benue and the construction of buffer dams to address recurrent flooding.

The exercise is being implemented in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and ADSEMA.

 (NAN)