The Federal Government has elevated flood prevention to a matter of national security with the unveiling of a comprehensive Anticipatory Action Framework on Floods, aimed at shifting Nigeria’s disaster management approach from reactive relief efforts to early, coordinated responses.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made this known at the Presidential Villa during the official presentation of the new framework and its consolidated budget by the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF).
“Disasters are security issues,” the Vice President stated, emphasizing that Nigeria must move beyond emergency reactions and embrace science-driven disaster preparedness. “By seizing this initiative and believing in science, we have carried out all due processes toward finding a roadmap.”
The new framework incorporates both scientific and traditional data-collection methods, clear triggers for early action, and a coordinated national budget. It is designed to bolster the resilience of flood-prone states and communities while improving disaster mitigation.
Vice President Shettima praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his proactive leadership and commended the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for spearheading the coordination of the multi-agency initiative.
“We will engage all major stakeholders in the Nigerian project to support this effort. Collectively, we can marshal resources and address our core issues,” he added.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, described the new strategy as a “paradigm shift” in the government’s approach to disaster management.
“We are moving from a system of reaction to one of prevention. In 2004, over 1.2 million people were displaced and 1.3 million hectares of farmland destroyed, with losses exceeding $1 billion. If we had allocated just one per cent of that to prevention, we would have saved significantly,” the Minister said.
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, also stressed the urgency of preparedness. “Natural disasters may be beyond our control, but our response is not. The real issue is not the disaster itself but our readiness to act when it strikes,” he noted.
Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Mrs. Inna Audu, outlined the work of the task force since its inauguration in March. She said the team had conducted a validation workshop and collected extensive data through both scientific and traditional methods to inform evidence-based planning.
Audu also announced the formation of a Strategic Communication Working Group within the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under ONSA and led by Major General Adamu Garba Laka. The group is responsible for implementing a tiered advocacy and communication plan to ensure that states, local governments, and communities are fully informed and able to act on early warning alerts.