NEMA, CR-SEMA Commence Three-Day Flood Disaster Simulation Exercise in Cross River

NEMA, CR-SEMA Commence Three-Day Flood Disaster Simulation Exercise in Cross River

By David Asu

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (CR-SEMA), on Tuesday commenced a three-day Flood Disaster Response Simulation Exercise in Calabar, Cross River State, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness, improving inter-agency coordination and enhancing the capacity of disaster responders ahead of the peak of the 2026 flood season.

The exercise, code-named "Ex Ndiyang Uwem," officially began on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, with a technical training session attended by emergency management stakeholders, security agencies, humanitarian organisations and disaster response institutions drawn from across the country. 

The programme is expected to culminate on Thursday with a live flood simulation exercise at Marina Resort, Calabar. 

Declaring the training open, the Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Efa Nyong, welcomed participants on behalf of the Cross River State Government and Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu, expressing appreciation to NEMA for selecting Cross River State to host the strategic exercise.

Mr. Nyong described the simulation as timely, noting that disaster management requires constant preparedness rather than reaction after emergencies occur.

He emphasized that effective disaster response can only be achieved through strong collaboration among emergency agencies, humanitarian organisations and relevant stakeholders, adding that the exercise provides another opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships in protecting lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.

The CR-SEMA Director General urged participants to maximize the training by sharing experiences, learning best practices and building stronger operational relationships that would ultimately translate into quicker and more coordinated responses during actual emergencies.

Representing the Director General of NEMA, the Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore B. A. Usman, described the simulation exercise as a critical component of Nigeria's disaster preparedness strategy.

He explained that the exercise was designed to test operational readiness, improve coordination among response agencies and identify areas requiring improvement before the peak of the rainy season.

According to him, flood disasters remain one of the country's most recurring natural hazards, making preparedness, planning and continuous simulation exercises essential in safeguarding lives and reducing disaster risks.

Air Commodore Usman commended the Cross River State Government and CR-SEMA for their commitment to disaster management and encouraged participants to actively engage throughout the exercise.

One of the major technical sessions featured a paper presentation on Safety Concerns on Search and Rescue/Evacuation in Flood Waters, delivered by the Assistant Director of Operations, NEMA Headquarters, Mr. Labaran Ahman.

Using practical demonstrations with professional divers, Mr. Ahman highlighted standard flood rescue procedures, responder safety measures, evacuation techniques and operational precautions required during flood emergencies.

He stressed that the safety of rescue personnel remains as important as that of disaster victims, urging responders to always adhere to internationally accepted rescue protocols during emergency operations. The Day One programme also featured presentations on the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook, followed by panel discussions involving representatives of NiMet, NIHSA and other technical experts. 

Speaking during the training, the Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Cross River State Area Office, Surveyor Abubakar Wathanafa, reaffirmed the agency's commitment to promoting water safety and flood risk reduction through sustained collaboration with NEMA and CR-SEMA.

He disclosed that NIWA has continued to deploy Water Safety Marshals across waterways and riverine communities, conduct public awareness campaigns on water transportation safety and undertake the desilting of critical water channels to improve water flow and reduce flooding.

He noted that the agency remains committed to supporting initiatives that enhance community resilience and prevent avoidable disasters along inland waterways.

The training attracted participants from the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Federal Fire Service, Cross River State Fire Service, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Information, Divers Association, Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), humanitarian organisations and other emergency management stakeholders.

The programme, supported by UNDP and the World Bank, reflects the growing commitment of national and international partners to strengthening Nigeria's disaster management architecture through capacity building, simulation exercises and enhanced multi-agency coordination capable of reducing the impact of flood disasters on vulnerable communities.

The three-day programme will continue with additional technical sessions, tabletop rehearsals and simulation planning before concluding with a full-scale live flood disaster response simulation designed to evaluate the operational readiness of emergency responders and strengthen coordinated disaster management across Cross River State.