The Federal Government has elevated flood prevention to the level of a national security priority with the unveiling of a new Anticipatory Action Framework on Floods, aimed at shifting the country’s disaster management approach from reactive to proactive, coordinated early response.
The framework, developed by the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF), combines scientific and traditional data-gathering methods, early warning triggers, and a consolidated budget to build resilience in flood-prone states and communities across Nigeria.
Vice President Kashim Shettima received the draft framework and consolidated budget on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He emphasised that disaster management must be approached as a matter of national security and urged all stakeholders to adopt a scientific, preventive mindset.
“Disasters are security issues,” Shettima stated. “Over the years, we have mostly been reactive instead of practising proactive disaster management. By seizing this initiative and believing in science, we have followed due process to map out a roadmap.”
He commended President Bola Tinubu for providing the leadership to prioritise disaster preparedness and also lauded the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for its role in coordinating the initiative.
“We will engage all key stakeholders in the Nigerian project to rally support. Collectively, we can marshal the necessary resources and address our core vulnerabilities,” the Vice President added.
Also speaking, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, described the framework as a major policy shift.
“We’re transitioning from reaction to recovery, from losses to prevention,” he said. “For instance, in 2004 alone, floods displaced about 1.2 million people and destroyed 1.3 million hectares of farmland, resulting in over $1 billion in losses. If just one per cent of that amount had been invested in prevention, we could have saved much more.”
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, echoed the urgency of early response, warning that while natural disasters are often beyond human control, how we prepare and respond determines the scale of the impact.
“Despite all the resources one may have, if we’re not anticipating and preparing adequately, we will suffer the worst consequences. Reaction is within our power, and that’s what matters most,” Ribadu said.
Providing an overview of the Task Force’s work, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Mrs. Inna Audu, explained that since its inauguration in March, the group has completed several key milestones, including a validation workshop and comprehensive data gathering using both scientific and traditional methods.
She also announced the formation of a Strategic Communication Working Group under the NSA’s office within the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), led by Major General Adamu Garba Laka.
“The communication group will implement a tiered advocacy strategy, informed by data from the Trigger Group, to ensure that states, local governments, and communities are properly sensitised and equipped to act on early warning signals,” she noted.
The Anticipatory Action Framework is expected to serve as a blueprint for national disaster preparedness, beginning with the 2025 flood season.
