The Federal Government is taking steps to empower flood-prone communities to manage their own safety, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Speaking at the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, in Abuja on Monday, Shettima reiterated that empowering communities is crucial to building national resilience.
“None of these efforts will yield results unless we empower and support our communities to take ownership of their safety,” he said.
“They are the foundation of whatever strategy we adopt and the heartbeat of our national resilience.”
The VP said government is working to strengthen state and local emergency management agencies through training, technology, and coordination support.
This approach aims to integrate disaster risk reduction into every sector, including agriculture, infrastructure, education, and health, he added.
Shettima disclosed that the government is developing a National Disaster Risk Financing Framework to ensure funding for prevention and preparedness is available when needed.
The Vice President highlighted the importance of investing in resilience, citing the need for drainage systems, stronger schools and hospitals, and climate-smart tools for farmers.
“Every naira we spend today on preparedness saves many more tomorrow on response and recovery,” he said.
“Every investment in resilience is, in truth, an investment in the lives and futures of our people.
“The government is also deepening partnerships with development partners, the private sector, and research institutions to drive innovation and resilience building.”
Shettima emphasized the need for strong partnerships with the private sector, saying they “must see themselves as partners in prevention, embedding risk reduction into corporate planning and investment decisions.”
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Hajiya Zubaida Umar, said the commemoration of the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction represents a defining moment in Nigeria’s national commitment to building resilience.
The event aims to galvanize support for innovative financing that can sustain risk reduction efforts.
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