The National Economic Council, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has approved fresh funding to boost Nigeria’s flood preparedness and disaster response for the 2025 rainy season. Announced by Finance Minister Wale Edun, this financial intervention will support federal bodies like the National Emergency Management Agency and the Ministries of Water Resources, Environment, and Budget. Crucially, the funding also extends to all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and their local emergency units to ensure a unified approach to preventing devastating floods. To manage this effort, the government is setting up local emergency committees across all local government areas and has already deployed critical response equipment to high-risk states. In tandem with these immediate actions, the National Emergency Management Agency has activated national and zonal operations centres and developed a long-term disaster relief strategy spanning 2024 to 2027 in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme. Furthermore, the National Emergency Management Agency has conducted hazard risk analyses with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund and signed cooperation agreements with the Police, Civil Defence, the Red Cross, and six universities specializing in disaster management. Ultimately, officials emphasize that tackling the shared challenge of flooding requires total cooperation from every level of government, strict enforcement of building and planning laws, and properly equipped response teams to protect vulnerable communities.
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