Vice President calls for increased disaster preparedness investment across Nigeria

Why disaster preparedness funding could save Nigeria billions

Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has called for increased investment in disaster preparedness and resilience mechanisms to reduce the impact of disasters across the country.

He made the remarks on Monday during the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) in Abuja, themed “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.”

The event was organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and attended by members of the National Assembly, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, representatives from the United Nations system in Nigeria and other development partners.

It also marked the unveiling of the National Emergency Management Agency Strategic Plan (2025–2029) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030).

Both documents are focused on risk-informed development, innovative financing and stronger institutional collaboration to make disaster management part of national planning across all sectors.

Investing in resilience to prevent future losses

Senator Shettima said: “It is wiser, cheaper, and more humane to prepare for disasters before they strike than to rebuild after they destroy.”

He added: “Every naira we spend today on preparedness saves many more tomorrow on response and recovery. Every investment in resilience is, in truth, an investment in the lives and futures of our people.”

He referred to recent disasters including floods, erosion and fires that have caused major economic and social damage across communities in Nigeria.

The Vice President stressed that failing to prioritise resilience funding forces governments to spend scarce resources on recovery rather than long-term prosperity.

He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made resilience a national policy priority.

Citizens and private sector urged to build resilience

Senator Shettima said: “Resilience cannot be guaranteed by government alone. It is built by all of us. It is reflected in how we plan our cities, in how businesses protect their workers, and in how communities share information and look out for one another.”

He continued: “This is why our private sector must see itself as a partner in prevention, embedding risk reduction into corporate planning and investment decisions.”

He also urged academia and research institutions to provide data-driven insights for decision-making and called on civil society organisations to raise awareness and ensure accountability.

The Vice President commended NEMA and its Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, for proactive coordination of national emergency preparedness and response.

Shift from response to resilience funding

In her opening address, Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director General of NEMA, said the agency is advocating for a decisive shift from reactive disaster response to proactive resilience funding.

She explained that Nigeria faces increasing disaster frequency and intensity caused by climate change, conflict, pandemics and technological risks.

Mrs Umar said: “Resilience must be mainstreamed across all sectors – agriculture, water resources, energy, infrastructure, finance, education and health.”

She added that NEMA is developing a National Risk Monitoring and Information Platform for early warning, vulnerability mapping and risk-informed investment decisions.

According to Mrs Umar, discussions are ongoing around innovative financing options such as catastrophe bonds, insurance pools, climate funds and blended finance models to support long-term disaster risk reduction.

Lawmakers and ministry reaffirm support for disaster preparedness

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State highlighted the economic importance of sustained disaster funding.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Hon. Joseph Bassey, both commended NEMA for its leadership and pledged continued legislative support for strengthening its capacity.

The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Yusuf Sununu, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to collaborate with NEMA and other partners to improve disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response nationwide.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The new strategic direction announced by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) holds direct relevance for emergency management and disaster response professionals.

The National Emergency Management Agency Strategic Plan (2025–2029) and National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030) emphasise risk-informed development, early warning systems and stronger institutional coordination.

These measures could influence planning, infrastructure design and emergency response frameworks used by local and national authorities.

Fire and rescue leaders, emergency planners, and safety officers in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, transport and manufacturing may need to align with new national standards for resilience-based planning and data-driven decision-making.

The focus on private sector involvement and cross-sector coordination is also likely to shape future public–private partnerships in disaster risk management and resilience funding.