Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the immediate activation of a national early warning and coordination platform to strengthen Nigeria’s preparedness and response to flooding as the rainy season intensifies across the country.
Shettima issued the directive on Thursday during a meeting of the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he instructed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the AATF, and other relevant agencies to commence the operationalisation of the Fusion and Trigger Room concept for flood monitoring, coordination, and early intervention.
According to the Vice President, the initiative is aimed at enabling Nigeria to anticipate disasters, coordinate responses efficiently, and take preventive action before emergencies escalate.
He stressed that the country must move away from reactive disaster management towards a proactive system that prioritises preparedness, coordination, and timely intervention.
“Nigeria needs an institutional mechanism that enables us to anticipate hazards, consolidate data, coordinate decisions, and activate action before emergencies escalate beyond our reach,” Shettima said.
He explained that the proposed Fusion and Trigger Room, to be domiciled within NEMA, would serve as the national coordination platform for monitoring weather patterns, forecasting potential disasters, activating emergency triggers, coordinating agencies, and guiding government decisions.
The Vice President also directed relevant agencies to immediately review and update their budgets in line with approved allocations while establishing clear implementation priorities to ensure rapid deployment of resources.
He emphasised that anticipatory action can only succeed if funding and emergency resources are released promptly, warning against delays caused by administrative bottlenecks.
“Resources intended for preparedness and early response must be available at the precise moment they are required. Waiting until disaster strikes before releasing approved funds defeats the purpose of early action,” he said.
Shettima further called on state governments to actively participate in implementing flood preparedness measures, noting that effective disaster management requires strong collaboration between federal and state authorities.
He pledged continued engagement with governors and other stakeholders to ensure that political commitments translate into measurable actions capable of protecting vulnerable communities.
Earlier, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, described the Federal Government’s approval of funding for anticipatory flood response as a timely intervention that would help minimise the impact of flooding across the country.
He advocated for central coordination of flood intervention programmes, leveraging Nigeria’s National Social Register and digital payment platforms in collaboration with state governments.
Also speaking, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for approving funding for anticipatory flood action, describing the move as a demonstration of political commitment and national leadership.
Fall noted that proactive investment in disaster preparedness has consistently proven effective in protecting lives and livelihoods, adding that Nigeria’s initiative could serve as a model for other African countries.
Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar, said the approved intervention funds would significantly reduce the risk of loss of lives and property during the current rainy season.
She disclosed that the agency had already identified high-risk areas and issued early warning advisories to vulnerable communities.
The renewed focus on flood preparedness follows the approval by the National Economic Council (NEC) of an ₦83.2 billion intervention fund to support anticipatory actions and strengthen disaster response efforts nationwide.
