The Niger State Government has expressed readiness to mitigate foreseeable disasters in 2026, including flooding, fire and other natural hazards across the state.
Our correspondent reports that the move follows recent weather forecasts by the Federal Government, indicating that 33 states may experience flooding this year, prompting calls for early mitigation measures.
The Commissioner for the Planning Commission, Mustapha Ndajiwo, disclosed this at a three-day stakeholders’ consultative meeting on the Niger State Shock Response Framework, organised by the state government in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund.
He said provisions had already been made in the 2026 budget to address potential disasters.
“We are preparing and doing our best to ensure we act within our capacity. When we developed the budget, we made provisions for disasters and counterpart funding. As such, when the time comes, funds will be released.
“We need to take action because Niger is a vulnerable state when it comes to disasters. What we are doing is to review past efforts and identify areas for improvement.
“Over the years, the government has worked to draft and implement strategic policies, particularly in agriculture, food security, and maternal and child nutrition,” Ndajiwo said.
He, however, lamented that the state’s institutional response had long been fragmented, with planning, nutrition and emergency management treated as separate entities.
Ndajiwo urged stakeholders to develop a comprehensive, multi-sectoral Shock Response Framework that would make the state’s development plans more resilient.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Mohammed Ibrahim, told Arewa PUNCH that the ministry would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure residents are well-informed and prepared to respond to emergencies.
“We will focus on mitigation measures and proactive strategies to curb disasters.
“A framework without a funding mechanism is just a wish list. We must integrate clear, ring-fenced financing strategies that allow rapid deployment of resources before a shock escalates into a catastrophe,” he said.
Ibrahim added that effective crisis response requires collaboration across ministries, including Agriculture and Health, as well as local government authorities, to build resilient systems and support the State Emergency Management Agency.
“Our framework must establish clear, data-driven early warning indicators, such as localised rainfall data, market food prices and rapid nutrition screening metrics, to trigger early action,” he said.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Planning Commission, Aishatu Usman, noted that the state had consistently faced flood-related challenges, warning that disasters could reverse years of development gains.
“Development is fragile in the face of unforeseen shocks. Whether it is climate-induced flooding destroying farmlands, rising inflation eroding purchasing power, or security challenges disrupting supply chains, shocks can wipe out years of progress overnight.
“When these crises occur, the first casualties are often the nutritional status of children and the economic stability of vulnerable households,” she said.
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist at UNICEF’s Kaduna Field Office and Emergency Focal Point for Niger State, Theresa Pamma, said the meeting was aimed at exploring funding mechanisms to respond effectively to disasters.
She added that UNICEF would continue to support the state with technical expertise and additional resources where available.
“UNICEF will support Niger State by providing technical capacity, and if resources are available, we can do more,” Pamma said.
