Adamawa State Successfully Conducts Pilot Anticipatory Action Simulation for Flood Preparedness

Yola, Adamawa State – June 25 2025

Three-Day Exercise Tests Multi-Agency Coordination, Community Response, and Early Action Protocols Ahead of Flood Season

From June 17th to 19th, 2025, Adamawa State hosted a groundbreaking Pilot Anticipatory Action Simulation Exercise (SIMEX) for Flood Preparedness. The exercise, designed to enhance disaster resilience and minimize flood impacts, rigorously tested emergency response plans, stakeholder communication protocols, and community sensitization strategies.

The SIMEX aimed to:  

1.  Prepare disaster management actors and vulnerable communities to take proactive, anticipatory measures.  

2.  Evaluate multi-agency coordination, communication efficiency, and operational readiness.  

3.  Validate flood mitigation, rescue, evacuation, and sensitization procedures in a realistic setting.

The exercise featured unprecedented collaboration among critical stakeholders, incincluding: office of the Vice President; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA HQ & Adamawa); Adamawa, Taraba, and Benue State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA); Nigeria Police Force (NPF); Nigerian Air Force; Nigerian Marine Police; Federal Fire Service; Department of State Services (DSS); National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA); Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet); National Orientation Agency (NOA); Adamawa State Ministries of Health, and Information & Strategy, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP); UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)/Nigerian Red Cross and local Government Representatives (Numan, Demsa, Lamurde); Local divers; Kwata community members (Numan LGA).

Hosted at the UN OCHA Office Yola and Duragi Hotel, these sessions focused on scenario development, trigger activation protocols, and role refinement. 

The Adamawa State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), led by the Director of Orientation and Civic Education (DO/ECE), played a pivotal anchoring role in facilitating these critical discussions.  

The SIMEX concluded as a significant success, marked by high energy, strong stakeholder engagement, and effective demonstration of multi-agency capabilities. While the exercise achieved its core objectives, it also revealed valuable operational gaps. Mr. Fred Anusim, Deputy Director of Planning, Research, and Forecasting at NEMA Headquarters Abuja, affirmed these lessons would directly inform and improve subsequent pilot exercises scheduled for Kogi and Cross River States.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Adamawa State Directorate, is committed to fostering civic awareness, disaster preparedness, and community resilience through effective public enlightenment and mobilization.

Hicia News