NEMA Conducted 87 Relief Operations, Aided 17,000 Displaced Persons in 2025

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that it conducted 87 relief operations across Nigeria’s North-West zone in 2025, assisting 17,000 people displaced by disasters and conflicts. The agency’s North-West Zonal Director, Sani Lokoja, disclosed the figures during an interview on Friday in Kaduna, outlining the scope of the agency’s response activities for the year.

According to Lokoja, the displaced persons were affected by a combination of security and climate-related incidents, including banditry, flooding, windstorms, rainstorms, fire outbreaks, and communal clashes. He said the interventions were carried out in various communities across the zone to address urgent needs and provide emergency support.

Kaduna State recorded the highest number of relief operations, with 34 interventions during the year. Sokoto State followed closely with 33 operations, while Kano State recorded 20 relief efforts. Lokoja said these figures reflect the intensity of incidents and the scale of displacement in these states.

Other states in the zone also received support, with Kebbi recording 16 interventions, Katsina 14, Jigawa seven, and Zamfara six. Lokoja noted that the distribution of relief activities was based on the severity of the incidents and the number of displaced persons in each state.

The zonal director explained that banditry remained a major driver of displacement in Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and parts of Kebbi State. He said the agency continued to respond to attacks and security incidents by providing relief materials and coordinating emergency support to affected communities.

In Kano State and Jigawa State, flooding and windstorms accounted for the majority of the relief operations. Lokoja said these natural disasters disrupted livelihoods, destroyed homes, and forced families to seek shelter elsewhere, prompting urgent relief interventions.

He also noted that fire outbreaks affected both urban and rural communities across the zone, leading to loss of property and displacing residents. NEMA responded to these incidents by distributing relief items and supporting victims to stabilize their situations.

Lokoja said the agency worked closely with state and local governments, as well as other stakeholders, to ensure a coordinated response. He urged improved preparedness and stronger collaboration among all parties to address the rising security and climate-related risks in the North-West zone.