NEMA DEPLOYS MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE AMBULANCES AHEAD OF EXPECTED 2025 FLOODING CYCLE

As Nigeria braces for another season of devastating floods, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has intensified its preparedness by deploying Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) ambulances to strategic operational offices across the country. The deployment is part of a broader national response to mitigate the impact of what is expected to be another year of severe climate-induced disasters.
NEMA Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, approved the deployment following internal assessments that revealed critical emergency equipment shortfalls in some field offices. According to a statement released by the agency, the decision is a proactive measure aimed at enhancing the agency’s response capacity during emergencies, particularly in vulnerable flood-prone regions.
“With the increasing risk of climate-induced disasters, particularly flooding, it is imperative that our teams are well-equipped to provide immediate and effective life-saving interventions,” Mrs. Umar stated. She emphasized that the MICU ambulances are a strategic boost to the capabilities of NEMA’s zonal and operations offices.
The ambulances, fitted with advanced medical tools such as oxygen supply systems, patient monitoring devices, suction kits, and life support equipment, are designed to offer critical pre-hospital care. These features enable emergency responders to stabilize victims during transit to health facilities, greatly improving survival outcomes in disaster-hit areas.
The MICUs have been dispatched to three operational bases considered crucial due to their high flood vulnerability and logistical importance—Kaduna in the North-West, Owerri in the South-East, and Uyo in the South-South.
According to the agency, the deployment forms part of a larger framework for disaster preparedness that includes infrastructure upgrades, expanded inter-agency coordination, and intensive public engagement. With weather forecasts indicating high likelihoods of flooding in over 20 states, NEMA says it is stepping up its multi-tiered strategy to avert large-scale casualties and damage.
Beyond equipment deployment, the agency has committed to conducting flood simulation drills, community sensitisation campaigns, and emergency stakeholder coordination meetings nationwide. These initiatives are intended to build resilience at the grassroots level and improve collective response times during crises.
“NEMA is committed to building a robust and sustainable nationwide disaster risk reduction system,” the agency said, noting that the deployment of MICU ambulances is just one component of its expanding climate resilience strategy.
This move comes amid growing concerns about Nigeria’s structural vulnerabilities to flooding. Despite the release of over ₦620 billion in ecological funds to states since 2012, preparedness has often been reactive. However, this year, with the combination of strategic deployments and preventive engagement, NEMA says it is determined to change the narrative.
As the rains intensify, communities across flood-prone states have already begun evacuating and taking precautionary steps. The federal response spearheaded by NEMA is expected to complement state-level efforts to reduce casualties and protect livelihoods as the country navigates another dangerous rainy season.