Nigeria Strengthens Flood Preparedness and Disaster Management with Fresh Funding

Strategic Insights -

The National Economic Council (NEC) has resolved to provide additional funding to enhance Nigeria's flood preparedness and disaster management efforts ahead of the upcoming rainy season. The decision was made at a meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, where the minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, confirmed that resources would be allocated to key federal ministries, agencies, and state governments. The funding will be channeled to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other critical ministries, including Water Resources, Budget and Economic Planning, and Environment.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NEC has directed the release of fresh funding to support Nigeria's flood preparedness and disaster management efforts.
  • The funding will be channeled to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other critical ministries, including Water Resources, Budget and Economic Planning, and Environment.
  • The intervention will extend beyond federal agencies, covering state emergency management agencies (SEMAs), the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory.
  • Local emergency management committees should be established and activated across all local government areas, with emergency coordination forums to be convened regularly.
  • The finance minister, Wale Edun, emphasized the importance of improved coordination among federal, state, and local actors to deliver a more robust response to flooding.
  • NEMA's Director General presented a detailed briefing on the agency's 2025 preparedness, outlining progress made, including a multi-year disaster relief and response strategy (2024-2027) developed with UNDP support.
  • Despite strides made, NEMA identified gaps such as poor drainage systems, delays in data collection from insecure, flood-prone areas, and weak enforcement of urban planning and building codes.
  • NEC issued a call to action to governors, urging them to strengthen state emergency agencies, set up local emergency management committees, enforce building codes and physical planning laws, institutionalise monthly environmental sanitation, and prioritise funding for disaster preparedness.
  • Emergency operation centres have been activated nationally and zonally since May 29, with equipment deployed to high-risk states.

Statistics:

  • Funding will be channeled to NEMA and other critical ministries.
  • The intervention will cover state emergency management agencies (SEMAs), the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory.
  • Local emergency management committees will be established and activated across all local government areas.
  • The goal is to improve coordination among federal, state, and local actors to deliver a more robust response to flooding.
  • NEMA has developed a multi-year disaster relief and response strategy (2024-2027) with UNDP support.
  • Progress has been made in hazard risk analysis, partnership establishment, and disaster risk management programme development.

Sources:

  • National Economic Council (NEC)
  • Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy
  • National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)