Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
Abuja, October 13, 2025 — The Federal Government is considering a new community-based strategy to tackle the rising threat of floods and other natural disasters across Nigeria, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Speaking at the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) in Abuja, themed “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” the Vice President emphasized that the government alone cannot ensure resilience unless local communities are fully empowered to take charge of their own safety.
“No amount of preparedness will produce tangible results if communities are not empowered to manage their own safety,” Shettima said. “They are the heartbeat of our national resilience.”
The Vice President called for stronger collaboration between the government, private sector, academia, and civil society, stressing that disaster prevention requires shared responsibility and collective action. He noted that resilience is best demonstrated in how cities are planned, how businesses protect their workers, and how citizens support one another in times of crisis.
He urged private organizations to embed disaster risk reduction into their corporate plans and investment decisions, while also charging universities and research institutions to generate data and innovations to guide future policies.
Shettima praised the IDDRR theme, saying it reflects the wisdom of investing in preparedness rather than response.
“It is far wiser, cheaper, and more humane to prepare for disasters before they strike than to rebuild after they destroy,” he said. “Every naira we spend on preparedness today saves many more tomorrow on recovery.”
He announced that the Federal Government is integrating disaster risk management into key sectors — including agriculture, infrastructure, education, and health — in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to treat resilience as a national priority.
Other initiatives include:
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Expanding early warning systems for floods, droughts, and disease outbreaks.
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Strengthening state and local emergency management agencies with training and technology.
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Developing a National Disaster Risk Financing Framework to ensure timely funding for prevention and preparedness.
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Enhancing partnerships with development partners, research bodies, and the private sector.
Shettima also called for more investment in drainage systems instead of relief camps, stronger schools and hospitals instead of temporary shelters, and climate-smart tools for farmers rather than food aid after disasters.
Earlier, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for leading Nigeria’s new five-year strategic plan for disaster response and called for deeper collaboration among stakeholders through public-private partnerships.
The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, also emphasized the need for sustainable funding and a more inclusive disaster management framework that reaches underserved communities.
In her remarks, NEMA Director-General Hajiya Zubaida Umar described the event as a “defining moment” for Nigeria’s resilience agenda, highlighting the importance of innovative financing and proactive risk reduction.
Lawmakers, including Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan and Hon. Joseph Bassey, assured NEMA of continued legislative support and pledged to strengthen the agency’s legal framework.
Meanwhile, Dr. Charles Usie, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, urged improved coordination, transparency, and data-driven planning to modernize disaster management in the country.
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