Akwa Ibom Adopts New Disaster, Emergency Response Plan

Akwa Ibom Stakeholders Adopt New Disaster Risk Management Framework

Stakeholders drawn from government ministries, civil society groups, youth networks, community representatives, development partners, and the private sector in Akwa Ibom State have formally adopted a new Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response Framework.

The draft framework, validated at a review meeting in Uyo over the weekend, was described as a participatory and inclusive policy tool designed to strengthen the state’s capacity for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.

Participants stressed that Akwa Ibom faces multiple threats — including flooding, coastal erosion, oil spills, fire outbreaks, building collapses, and communal clashes — which require a shift from reactive responses to proactive disaster management.

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According to the communiqué issued, the validated framework will be submitted to the State Executive Council through the Ministry of Environment and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for formal approval and adoption.

Stakeholders highlighted the need for a centralized digital disaster risk database to enhance coordination, given the state’s vulnerability arising from its coastal geography, oil industry activities, and rapid urbanization.

They also commended the role of young people, noting that the draft was initiated and led by youth representatives through a consultative process that captured the realities and aspirations of local communities.

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“We hereby adopt the Draft Akwa Ibom State Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response Framework as an inclusive instrument for guiding disaster preparedness, response, and resilience in the State,” the communiqué read in part.

Stakeholders pledged to support the framework’s domestication, institutionalization, and full implementation across their various sectors to ensure a safer and more resilient Akwa Ibom.