FG Tags Flood Prevention a National Security Must

The Federal Government has officially classified flood prevention as a national security concern with the launch of a new Anticipatory Action Framework on Floods—an initiative designed to transition Nigeria’s disaster management approach from reactive crisis response to a proactive, coordinated preparedness strategy.

Developed by the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF), the framework integrates scientific forecasting tools with traditional knowledge systems, utilizing early warning signals and a unified funding mechanism to strengthen resilience in flood-vulnerable regions across the country.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who received the draft framework and consolidated budget on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, emphasized the need to treat disasters through a national security lens. He called for a collective shift towards science-based, preventive planning.

“Disasters are not just humanitarian concerns—they’re national security challenges,” Shettima stated. “For too long, our approach has been reactive. With this framework, we’re taking a deliberate, data-driven path forward.”

He praised President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing disaster preparedness and acknowledged the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for spearheading the initiative.

According to Shettima, the success of the framework will depend on full stakeholder collaboration: “We’ll mobilize support across sectors, consolidate resources, and address our nation’s key vulnerabilities.”

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, also described the framework as a transformative shift in policy direction, underscoring its potential to enhance early action and long-term resilience.

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“We’re shifting from reacting after disasters to preventing them before they happen,” the Vice President said. “Take 2004, for example—floods displaced 1.2 million people and destroyed 1.3 million hectares of farmland, causing over $1 billion in losses. Investing even one per cent of that in prevention could have spared us much of the damage.”

National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu also emphasized the importance of preparedness, noting that while natural disasters may be unavoidable, the scale of their impact depends heavily on early planning and response.

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“No matter how many resources we have, without anticipating and preparing, the consequences will be dire,” Ribadu stated. “Our response is where we can make the biggest difference.”

Providing insight into the work behind the framework, Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Development Partners, Mrs. Inna Audu, outlined the milestones achieved since the task force’s formation in March. These include a national validation workshop and extensive data gathering using both scientific and traditional methods.

Audu also revealed the establishment of a Strategic Communication Working Group, situated under the Office of the National Security Adviser at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), and led by Major General Adamu Garba Laka.

According to her, the group will drive an advocacy campaign informed by data from the Trigger Group to ensure that states, local councils, and communities are well-informed and able to act swiftly on early warnings.

The newly launched Anticipatory Action Framework is set to guide Nigeria’s disaster preparedness efforts—starting with the 2025 flood season.