The Federal Government has announced plans to empower communities across Nigeria, especially those prone to floods, to manage their own safety as part of a new approach to addressing flood-related disasters.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made this known on Monday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR). He stated that empowering local communities is key to preventing the devastating impact of natural disasters.
According to the Vice President, no amount of preparedness will yield tangible results if communities are not equipped to take responsibility for their safety. He explained that resilience is not achieved by government efforts alone but also depends on how cities are planned, how businesses protect their workers, and how communities share information and support one another.
“The private sector must see itself as a partner in prevention, embedding risk reduction into corporate planning and investment decisions,” Shettima said.
He emphasized that institutions of learning and research must help generate data, innovation, and practical solutions to strengthen disaster preparedness in Nigeria. “Our academia and research institutions also bear the responsibility of helping us generate the data, innovation, and practical research we need to prepare for a safer future,” he noted.
He called on civil society organizations to play their role in holding government accountable, raising awareness, and mobilizing citizens toward a shared sense of responsibility. “None of these efforts will yield results unless we empower and support our communities to take ownership of their safety. They are the foundation of whatever strategy we adopt and the heartbeat of our national resilience,” he added.
The Vice President praised the theme of the 2025 IDDRR, “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” saying it reflects the need to invest in prevention rather than reaction. “It is far wiser, far cheaper, and far more humane to prepare for disasters before they strike than to rebuild after they destroy,” he said.
Shettima further explained that investing in preparedness yields long-term benefits. “Every naira we spend today on preparedness saves many more tomorrow on response and recovery. Every investment in resilience is, in truth, an investment in the lives and futures of our people,” he added.
The Vice President, however, said that commitment alone is not sufficient. “We must match our words with action and our policies with funding,” he declared.
He outlined the government’s new focus areas for funding resilience, stating that resources will be directed toward improving infrastructure such as drainage systems instead of relying on temporary relief camps. He also emphasized the need to build stronger schools and hospitals, support farmers with climate-smart tools, and train first responders before disasters occur.
According to him, these priorities reflect a shift from merely reacting to crises to actively preventing them. “This is the shift required to move from reacting to crises to anticipating and preventing them,” he said.
Senator Shettima highlighted that President Bola Tinubu has directed that resilience be treated as a national policy. The Federal Government is now integrating disaster risk reduction into sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, education, and health. He revealed that the government is expanding early warning systems to ensure that communities receive alerts about floods, droughts, or disease outbreaks before they happen.
He explained that the government is strengthening state and local emergency management agencies through improved training, technology, and coordination. “We are developing a National Disaster Risk Financing Framework to guarantee that funding for prevention and preparedness is available when and where it is needed,” Shettima said.
He added that partnerships with development agencies, the private sector, and research institutions are being deepened to promote innovation and resilience across all levels of government.
Also speaking at the event, Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Dauda Lawal, commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for its efforts in strengthening Nigeria’s disaster management system through the launch of a five-year strategic plan.
The governor explained that Zamfara State has adopted an emergency management framework to address local challenges and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders. He also proposed the use of a Public-Private Partnership model in funding disaster management efforts nationwide.
The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, acknowledged that Nigeria has suffered from both natural and human disasters, which highlights the importance of a united approach to managing risks. He stressed the need to diversify funding sources to improve disaster response and reach more communities in need.
According to him, reviewing Nigeria’s strategic disaster management framework will make it easier to support vulnerable populations and improve the effectiveness of intervention efforts.
Director General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, stated that the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction marks a key moment in Nigeria’s journey toward building resilience. She said the event provides an opportunity to promote innovative financing options that can sustain long-term disaster risk reduction.
“The conversations at this event will help galvanize support for innovative financing that can sustain risk reduction efforts on scale and form the core of NEMA’s plans towards strengthening Nigeria’s resilience architecture,” she said.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, commended the DG of NEMA for organizing the event, describing it as timely. He assured that the National Assembly would continue to collaborate with NEMA to create an enabling environment for effective disaster management.
Similarly, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Disaster Management, Hon. Joseph Bassey, pledged the legislature’s support for NEMA, especially in its efforts to amend the NEMA Act to make the agency more efficient.
In his keynote address, the Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, Dr. Charles Usie, emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt a global framework for disaster risk reduction. He urged the government to improve data collection, coordination, and transparency while paying attention to early warning systems.
He explained that stronger data and coordination will help transform NEMA into a modern and efficient disaster management agency capable of responding proactively to threats.