Vice President Kashim Shettima has raised alarm over the looming threat of flood disasters in Nigeria, stating that no fewer than 15 million citizens are at high risk in 2025.
Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of a one-day Validation Workshop on the Anticipatory Action Framework for Nigeria, held at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja, Shettima stressed the need for urgent and coordinated action.
He said the Federal Government is shifting from a reactive to a proactive approach in order to reduce the devastating impacts of recurring floods. The Vice President emphasized the importance of collaboration between federal and state government agencies to effectively manage and respond to such disasters.
Shettima disclosed that Nigeria currently loses about five percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually to flood-related damages. To mitigate the risks, he announced that President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of N15 billion to support emergency preparedness and response efforts.
While addressing broader security issues in the country, Shettima condemned the recent deadly attacks in Plateau State and extended condolences on behalf of President Tinubu to the affected families. He also advocated for a non-military, holistic approach to resolving the protracted security challenges in the North-East and Plateau regions, noting, “There can never be a military solution to the crisis in Plateau, North-East.”
Just last week, the Federal Government forecasted heavy rainfall and flooding in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The states identified as high-risk include:
Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, added that many of these areas are likely to experience riverine and coastal flooding due to rising sea levels. In particular, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers States are expected to face severe impacts, while Akwa Ibom and Edo also fall within high-risk zones.
