The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the release of N83.2 billion to support nationwide interventions aimed at mitigating flooding and other climate-related disasters, marking a significant step towards proactive disaster management in Nigeria.
The approval was granted during the 158th meeting of the council held in Abuja on Thursday. The intervention fund will be deployed through the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF), a multi-sectoral initiative designed to reduce the devastating impact of annual flooding and climate emergencies before they occur.
The decision followed a presentation by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, which highlighted the urgent need for preventive measures as Nigeria enters another rainy season marked by heightened flood risks in several states.
Council members agreed that the country must move away from its long-standing reactive approach to disaster response and instead invest in early warning systems, preparedness programmes, infrastructure protection, and community resilience initiatives capable of reducing the human and economic costs of natural disasters.
Speaking during the meeting, Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized that government policies should be evaluated based on their impact on ordinary Nigerians. He stated that farmers, small business owners, manufacturers, vulnerable communities, unemployed youths, and future generations should remain at the centre of policy decisions.
According to the Vice President, development efforts must be inclusive and designed to ensure that no citizen is left behind. He stressed the need for targeted interventions that protect vulnerable populations from the growing effects of climate change, environmental degradation, and economic disruptions.
Shettima also used the occasion to call for greater economic transformation, urging Nigeria to reduce its dependence on exporting raw materials while importing finished products. He argued that increased local processing, manufacturing, and value addition would create jobs, strengthen the economy, and enhance national resilience.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State disclosed that NEC approved N83.21 billion, representing 50 percent of the N166.42 billion requested by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for climate emergency preparedness and response activities.
He explained that council members recognized the increasing frequency and severity of flooding across the country and agreed that preventive action would be more cost-effective than emergency relief efforts after disasters strike.
Nigeria has experienced recurring floods in recent years, resulting in loss of lives, destruction of homes, displacement of communities, damage to critical infrastructure, and significant losses in the agricultural sector. Experts have consistently warned that climate change, poor drainage systems, unregulated urban development, and environmental degradation are increasing the country’s vulnerability to flooding.
The newly approved fund is expected to support a range of initiatives, including flood-risk mapping, strengthening of early warning systems, emergency preparedness training, reinforcement of vulnerable infrastructure, protection of farmlands, and support for communities identified as high-risk zones.
Stakeholders have welcomed the decision as a positive shift towards disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. They argue that proactive investments in preparedness can save billions of naira in recovery costs while protecting lives, livelihoods, and critical national assets.
The approval underscores the growing recognition by policymakers that climate-related disasters are no longer isolated environmental challenges but major threats to economic stability, food security, public health, and national development.
As the rainy season intensifies, attention will now turn to the effective and transparent implementation of the intervention programme to ensure that vulnerable communities receive the protection and support needed to withstand future climate emergencies.
