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Tag: National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

  • 40 missing, 10 rescued in Sokoto boat mishap

    40 missing, 10 rescued in Sokoto boat mishap

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said over 40 passengers are missing, 10 rescued after a boat capsized in Sokoto State yesterday.

    The Sokoto Operations office of the agency also stated that it had deployed its response team to support ongoing rescue.

    According to a statement by the agency, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, activated the response after receiving reports that a boat conveying over 50 passengers to Goronyo Market had capsized.

    The statement reads: “The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Sokoto Operations Office (SOO), has deployed its response team to support ongoing rescue operations following a tragic boat mishap in Sokoto State today.

    Read Also: 42 Chinese, Filipinos convicted of cyber crimes deported

    “The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, activated the Agency’s response immediately after receiving reports that a boat conveying over 50 passengers to Goronyo Market had capsized.

    “As of the time of this report, about 10 persons have been rescued, while more than 40 passengers remain missing.

    “NEMA SOO, in collaboration with local authorities and emergency responders, is intensifying search and rescue operations to locate the missing persons”.

    The agency reassured the public of its commitment to saving lives, providing timely updates, and coordinating all necessary support for the affected families.

  • 2025 Flood: 191 dead, 94 missing, 134,435 affected in 20 States – NEMA

    2025 Flood: 191 dead, 94 missing, 134,435 affected in 20 States – NEMA

    Data by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has shown that 191 persons have died, 94 missing and 134,435 persons have been affected by this year’s flooding.

    The agency also stated that 239 persons sustained various injuries, 48,056 displaced, 9,499 houses affected and, 9,450 farmlands destroyed across 47 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 20 States.

    The 2025 flood dashboard by NEMA, indicates that children and women were mostly affected. 
    The data reads: “60,071 children affected, 41,539 women, 27,121 men, 5,704 elderly, and 1,874 disabled persons have so far been affected by this year’s flood”.

    Read Also: Don’t blame Tinubu for north’s woes, Shehu Sani tells critics

    The States with the highest number of affected persons are; Imo with 28,030, Rivers with 22,345 persons, Adamawa with 12,613, Abia with 11,907 persons, Borno with 8,164 persons and Kaduna with 7,334.

    The 20 States affected are; Abia, FCT, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Rivers and Sokoto States. 

    The priority needs of the affected persons according to the agency are: food, shelter, nutrition, livelihood, WASH, health, education, protection and security.

    The key challenges identified in the aftermath of the flood incidence according to NEMA are resource shortage, inaccessibility, security risk, community resistance, and poor coordination. 

    In 2024, about 5 million people were affected, about 1.2 million displaced, over 1,000 lives lost, and 16,000 persons were injured.

  • NEMA: Anambra communities reluctant to heed flood warnings

    National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has expressed worry over adamant disposition of victims of flood disaster in Anambra State to relocate to safe and higher ground to avert impending disaster.

    The agency attributed most erosion flood cases in Nigeria to refusal of people living in riverine communities to heed warnings from relevant agencies in disaster management.

    Speaking after assessing the level of flood at Odekpe and Atani communities in Ogbaru council area, Acting Director General of the Agency, Air Commodore Akugbe Iyamu wondered why flood victims would insist on safeguarding their homes rather than fleeing for their lives.

    He maintained that it was only the living that could claim possession of abode.

    He said, “How will someone say it’s my ancestral home and wants to die there? This is not a time to defend whether the area is your ancestral home or not. To be able to push the narrative, you need to come out first and get saved before defending whether it’s your ancestral home or not.”

    According to Iyamu, the visit to the area was at the instance of the state government following predictions by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

    “The agency has been following and closely monitoring the NIHSA predictions and having seen the level of the flood disaster, will take immediate actions,” he added.

    The acting DG described flood as a highly unpredictable natural phenomenon which is not peculiar to Nigeria, assuring victims of quick deployment of food and non-food items.

    “The US, since 1926, through its army engineers, have been managing flood and I don’t think it has gotten solution. The Mississippi is still a challenge to them.

    “The federal government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that those affected by flood are given adequate attention,” Iyamu posited.

    Also speaking, Chairman of the Red Cross Society in the state, Prof. Peter Katchy, lauded the collaboration of the body with NEMA and other relevant agencies in times of emergency.

    Katchy, who presented an award of Commander of Humanity to the NEMA boss, commended the agency for supporting the body during emergencies.

    He pledged the organisation preparedness to work hard to combat situations that could lead to loss of lives, expressing hope of soon reception of relief materials.

    Earlier, Transition Committee Chairman for Ogbaru Council Area, Mr. Arinze Awogu, went down memory lane on challenges they faced annually during rainy seasons.

    He described the area as the worst hit by the disaster, regretting that twelve lives were lost last year to the flood.

    He said, “Last year, we recorded 12 deaths with over 11,280 IDPs in the flood that lasted more than two months.

    “We are always excited when we see government presence because we are sure of succour.”

    Awogu disclosed that the three holding centers created in the 16 communities in the area were all ravaged by the flood, appealing for additional centers.

    He commended Governor Willie Obiano for his prompt response to emergencies but requested for more holding centers in the area to accommodate the number of people affected.

    He also stressed the need to prepare the centres for human habitation, just as he appealed for medics as several children were suffering from various health challenges.

  • NEMA provides relief materials to Daura flood victims

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday provided relief materials to flood victims in Daura, Katsina State.

    More than 300 houses were totally brought down while other houses, shops and farmlands were submerged following downpour on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    The Acting Chairman of Daura Local Government Area, Abba Mato, had described the flood as “one of the worst ever witnessed in the area”.

    Areas worst hit were Kusugu, Sabongari, Sarkin Yara and Mazoji areas of Daura metropolis.

    Read Also: NEMA receives 171 Nigerians from Libya

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated by NEMA include Rice, Maize, Beans, Millet, Cooking oil and salt.

    It also provided building materials like cement, roofing sheets, nails, ceiling, mosquito nets, blankets and mats.

    Eng. Mustapha Maihaja, Director General of NEMA, represented by the North West coordinator of the agency, Mr Ishaya Chinoko, said that the donation was to cushion the effects of the disaster on the victims.

    “We are aware that what we brought will not compensate what the victims lost, but we bring the items as relief materials,” he said.

    Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, advised the flood victims not to sale what was given to them by the Federal Government.

    Masari who was represented by the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Babangida Nasamu, said that the state government would also support the victims.

    NAN

     

  • NEMA receives 153 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 153 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    The Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihajja, represented by Mr Slaku Lugard, an official of the agency, received the returnees on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Maihajja said that the Nigerians arrived in the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 3:45a.m.

    According to him, the returnees are brought via Al Buraq Air Boeing 737 aircraft with flight number UZ 189 and registration number 5A-DMG.

    He said that the Nigerians were brought by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and European Union on the platform of the Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme.

    Read Also: NEMA receives 171 Nigerians from Libya

    He also said that the returnees comprised 59 female adults, four female children and seven female infants as well as 78 adult males, three male children and two male infants.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other agencies which received the returnees included the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.

    Others were the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Edo Task Force on Anti-Trafficking.

    In July 2018, NEMA announced that it received a batch of 160 Assisted Voluntary Returnees from Libya who were stranded in failed attempts to reach different European countries

     

  • DCP, 12 others dead as Shiites protest in Abuja

    MEMBERS of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), popularly called Shiites, on Monday clashed with the police at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    The battle grounds were the popular Federal Secretariat, Eagle Square and around the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    Members of the IMN stepped up their protest for the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, despite last week’s restriction of all protests in Abuja to the Unity Fountain.

    The sect members trooped out in their hundreds to continue their daily protest.

    Eye witnesses said that the police, who attempted to prevent the Shiites members from storming the Federal Secretariat flashpoint, started firing gunshots and tear gas, as the protesters were forcing their way through to the area.

    It was gathered that the attempt by the police to disperse the sect members failed as the security details appeared to have been overwhelmed by the surging protesters.

    Unconfirmed reports said more than five Shiite members were killed.

    The protest, which began from NITEL Junction at Wuse 2, was said to have been disrupted by policemen who condoned off the road leading to the National Assembly and the three Arms Zone.

    According to eyewitnesses, live ammunition was allegedly fired at the protesters as they advanced and made their way toward the Eagle Square and the Federal Secretariat.

    The sustained shooting, it was learnt, led to commotion and pandemonium as workers and passersby ran for their dear lives.

    The clash sparked panic as anxious workers at the Federal Secretariat, commuters and motorists fled the area.

    There was a terrible traffic jam at the city centre, which forced many motorists to abandon their cars.

    One of our reporters sighted the five bodies around the Federal Secretariat.

    At the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) substation close to the Federal Secretariat, one water tanker and one operational vehicle stationed at the sub-station were set ablaze allegedly by the protesters.

    Cars at the general motor park behind the Eagle Square were vandalised by the protesters.

    The back windshield of a car at the National Assembly car park was shattered by what was described as “stray bullet”.

    The sect members retreated when they noticed that the security operatives had overpowered them.

    Some security agents in army uniform were observed helping the police to contain the situation.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Again, Shiites protesters, Police clash in Abuja

    The sect members were said to have infiltrated the FCT Central Business Area from Maraba and Nyanya in Nasarawa State.

    Traffic was heavy on Keffi-Abuja Expressway as soldiers conducted a stop-and-search operation.

    IMN spokesman Abdullahi Musa said 10 of its members were shot dead; several others were injured.

    Musa insisted that killing or arresting members of the group will not stop them from protesting until their leader is freed.

    His words: “As I am speaking with you about 10 of our members have been shot dead by the police.”

    The police evacuated the bodies from the road.

    A Channels Television reporter, Precious Owolabi, who was hit by stray bullet, was last night confirmed dead.

    He was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

    Precious, 23, was a corps member serving with Channels Television in Abuja.

    The management of the television confirmed his death during its 10 pm news.

    The Police advised FCT residents to remain calm.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Frank Mba said: “There is a violent protest currently ongoing by members of the El-Zakzaky Group in some parts of the FCT – particularly the Central Business District and the Three Arms Zone.

    “The police are taking adequate measures to bring the situation under control.

    “Citizens are advised to remain calm and avoid the affected areas in the interim. The Police will keep the public abreast with further development.”

     

  • Police in Rivers rescue four abducted NEMA workers

    The Police in Rivers State say they have secured the unconditional release of four abducted staffers of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    DSP Nnamdi Omoni, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command in the state, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

    Omoni said that the four staffers, who were abducted on April 24 on the East/West Road, were debriefed and released to their families after they were rescued.

    He said that operatives of the Police Anti-Kidnapping Unit rescued the victims in a sting operation on Monday at about 0015hrs.

    The PPRO said that in another development, operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit in Aluu Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, on Tuesday raided a kidnapping camp at Ozuoba.

    “The hoodlums on sighting the police, engaged them in a gun battle and in a return fire, fatally wounded one Stephen Matthew ‘m’ aka ‘Wenekanma’ a notorious armed robber/cultist and the gang leader of Dey-gbam group.

    “He has been terrorising Alakahia and Choba Communities Obio/Akpor LGA and killed one Ibe Chima, ‘m’ in Alakahia, in a recent attack.

    “Manhunt has been declared for his fleeing members,” he said.

    According to Omoni, the IGP Monitoring Unit, in a similar operation at Eleme LGA on Monday, stormed a camp at Agboncha sand field forest belonging to a notorious kidnapping kingpin, Amebe.

    Read Also: 2 foreign oil workers, Nigerian kidnapped in Rivers

    “On arrival, Amebe was greeted with severe gunfire resulting in his death, while two others were arrested.

    “Exhibit recovered included, one Pump Action Gun and five live cartridges and some expended ones,” he added.

    Omoni stated that the war against banditry in Rivers was still on and the police command would stop at nothing until the practice was stopped.

    He urged the public to remain calm and to continue their normal businesses as the command remained committed ensuring the safety of lives.

    He urged the people to help the police make the state safe and secure.

    “In keeping with our avowed determination to rid the state of all criminal elements and make it habitable for all and sundry, we need the support of everyone,” the PPRO said.

    NAN

     

  • IOM, EU bring back another 145 Nigerians from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 145 stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    Alhaji Idris Muhammad, Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, confirmed the development to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Muhammad said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday night aboard a chartered Al Buraq Air aircraft with registration number 5A – DMG.

    He said that the Nigerians were brought back by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and European Union under the Assisted Voluntary Returnees (AVR) Programme.

    “After profiling of the returnees, the analysis of the breakdown indicates that 99 adult males, two male children and five male infants were amongst them.

    “The profiling also revealed that 35 adult females and four infant females were also brought back, ” Muhammad said.

    The coordinator, while receiving the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, admonished them to learn lessons from what they had gone through in the volatile North African country.

    He urged them to always be ready to make the best use of opportunities abundantly available in Nigeria.

    Accordng to him, Nigeria is the best and has opportunities for everyone.

    “All you need to do is tap into whatever you want to do and the present government is doing things to encourage the realisation of individual and collective potentials for the development of Nigeria of our dream.

    “Make sure you are not left behind in the development of Nigeria, ” Muhammad said.

    Read Also: 180 Nigerians deported from Libya

    He also advised those still thinking of embarking on such perilous journey through the Mediterranean Sea to Europe to have rethink on their decisions due to the associated risk.

    Muhammad said further that the IOM and Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity had jointly opened Migrants Resource Centres to assist potential migrants seeking enquiries about their intended host country.

    He said the centres located in Lagos, Abuja and Benin provide information such as the best mode of transportation to use, security situations in the host country as well as job opportunities there to help people make informed decisions.

    One of the returnees, Ms Aisha Musa, from Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, while narrating her experience in Libya, said it was worsened by the behaviour of some Nigerians in the country.

    The 22-year-old said “the problem there was that Nigerians don’t obey the laws.

    “Despite the fact that Libya is facing serious problem, they are very patriotic to their country and will not allow prohibited manners or behaviours in their land.

    “Nigerians import alcoholic drinks into the country secretly. Our girls wear skimpy or near nude dresses and all these are not permitted there but they still go out in such dresses.

    “Most of our ladies are into prostitution and Nigerians are fully involved in slave trading of their fellow nationals.’’

    According to her, some Nigerians who are lucky to be housemaids are also hostile to the children of their bosses and beat the children at any slight provocation.

    “Some of the these acts cannot be allowed by any decent society.

    “For me, Aisha, “I obeyed their laws. I am happy that I got a very good family that I worked with as housemaid.

    “Since the war broke out, the family I worked with have relocated to Turkey. I would have followed them but I didn’t have International Passport,” Musa said.

    According to her, she paid N400,000 to her friend who trafficked her to Libya and earned a monthly wage equivalent of N50,000 Nigeria currency.

    Musa further stated that her Libyan madam (employer) was like a mother to her during the period she worked with the family.

    NAN

  • NEMA, Edo distribute relief materials to victims of River Niger surge

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the Edo State Government has distributed relief materials to victims of 2018 flood disaster caused by the surge of the River Niger in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    The materials distributed include 75 sewing machines, 60 grinding machines, 42 hair dryers and 75 fishing nets.

    Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Special Duties, Mr Yakubu Gowon, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for providing the materials which he said will enable the victims of the River Niger upsurge to bounce back to life.

    He assured that those involved in distributing the materials to the victims will ensure the materials are accounted for.

    Read Also: Edo govt dispels rumours of PMS scarcity

    Edo State team Supervisor for NEMA, Mr Christian Omeje while presenting the relief materials to the Director of Administration and General Services, Esan South East Local Government Council, warned against selling or abandoning the materials.

    Among the flood victims who were presented with the materials include Mrs Ohifueme Agbonwangue, who was got a hairdryer; Mrs Shaibu Eghonghon, received a sewing machine; Mr Ebhojie Monday got fishing nets, and Mrs Alenkhe Rita got a grinding machine.

    Director of Administration and General Services in Esan South East LGA, Mr Jimoh Isah, thanked the federal and state governments for their support, promising to ensure that victims of the flood get the relief materials.

    The beneficiaries also thanked the federal and state government for assisting them.

     

  • 162 Nigerians deported from Libya

    One hundred and sixty two Nigerians stranded in the North African country- Libya were on Wednesday deported.

    They were returned home under an assistance programme facilitated by the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    The returnees comprising 100 females; including four pregnant women and 62 males arrived the cargo section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos in the early hours aboard Libyan Airlines.

    Receiving the returnees, NEMA’s Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, Idris Muhammed said the profiling of the returnees shows they were 82 adult females; 13 female children and five female infants.

    He said there were 50 adult males, four male children; 13 male infants with two mionrs with medical case.

    The Coordinator while welcoming the Returnees urged them to be agents of positive change and take up the challenge against irregular migrations by telling whoever wants to embark on such dangerous journeys to desist from it.

    Read Also: We pray for death in Libya, says returnee

    “Migration is protected by International and national statutes for movement of people through proper regularisation of papers that would protect and save you against risks of irregular migrations.”

    Muhammed stated that NEMA hosted a team from European Union on monitoring and evaluation of the special EU intervention on assisted voluntary return of migrants.

    NEMA interfaced with them on the ways of improving the present European Assisted Voluntary Returnees projects being run by IOM.

    He said gaps were identified especially on logistics which are causing nightmares to stakeholders and the Returnees but on the whole the rescheduling of aircraft charter flights would be improved upon.

    The exercise which began in April, 2017 is expected to end by April, 2020 and about 8,808 Returnees have so far been repatriated back home to Nigeria from North Africa.