FG declares floods a national security issue, launches prevention framework
The federal government has declared flood prevention a national security priority and unveiled a new anticipatory action framework designed to move Nigeria from reactive emergency response to early, science-led intervention.
Kashim Shettima, vice president, made the declaration on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa while receiving the draft plan and consolidated budget from the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF).
“Disasters are security issues,” Shettima said.
“Over the years, we have only been reacting instead of practising proactive disaster management. By seizing this initiative and believing in science, we have taken a bold step toward building a roadmap for prevention.”
He said the new strategy marks a shift in how the country approaches flood risk — not just as a humanitarian challenge, but as a national threat that demands urgent and coordinated action.
Shettima praised President Bola Tinubu for backing the framework, which was coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
He urged ministries, state governments, and development partners to align with the plan and support nationwide resilience.
Presenting the strategy, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, said the framework reflects a policy breakthrough.
“We are shifting from reaction to recovery — and from losses to prevention,” he said.
He recalled that in 2004 alone, over 1.2 million Nigerians were displaced and 1.3 million hectares of farmland were destroyed, costing the country more than $1 billion.
Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, reinforced the urgency of moving from late response to early planning.
“We may not control natural disasters, but our ability to anticipate and respond early determines the outcome. Waiting invites avoidable suffering,” he said.
Inna Audu, special assistant to the president on humanitarian affairs and development partners, said the AATF had deployed scientific and traditional methods for data gathering since March.
She also announced the creation of a Strategic Communication Working Group under the NSA’s office to drive public awareness and ensure community-level readiness.
The new anticipatory action framework will integrate early warning triggers, coordinated funding, and grassroots communication to avert avoidable flood disasters across the country.
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