The Federal Government has announced plans to empower communities across Nigeria to take greater responsibility for managing their own safety in the face of floods and other natural disasters.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at the commemoration of the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), themed “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.” He said communities must be strengthened and equipped with the knowledge, tools, and partnerships necessary to prevent and respond to emergencies effectively.
“No amount of preparedness will yield results unless communities are empowered to take charge of their own safety,” Shettima said. “They are the foundation of whatever strategy we adopt and the heartbeat of our national resilience.”
The Vice President emphasized that disaster preparedness should be treated as a national policy priority, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of integrating disaster risk reduction into all sectors — including agriculture, health, education, and infrastructure.
He announced that the Federal Government is working to strengthen state and local emergency management agencies through training, technology, and coordination support. Additionally, a National Disaster Risk Financing Framework is being developed to ensure that funding for prevention and preparedness is readily available when needed.
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Shettima urged the private sector to play a more active role by embedding risk reduction in corporate planning and investment decisions. He also called on academic and research institutions to produce the data and innovations required to build resilience against future disasters.
“Every naira spent on preparedness saves many more tomorrow on response and recovery,” he said. “We must invest in drainage systems, not just relief camps — in stronger schools and hospitals, not temporary shelters.”
The Vice President stressed that Nigeria must transition from a reactive approach to disaster management toward one that anticipates and prevents crises.
At the event, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for launching its five-year strategic plan and called for stronger public-private partnerships to fund disaster management initiatives.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, said the government was working to diversify funding sources and ensure that disaster response reaches underserved communities.
NEMA Director General, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, described the day’s commemoration as a defining moment for Nigeria’s resilience framework, emphasizing the importance of innovative financing for disaster risk reduction.
Lawmakers, including Sen. Kaka Shehu Lawan and Hon. Joseph Bassey, pledged continued legislative support to strengthen NEMA and enhance Nigeria’s capacity to manage disasters.