The Nigerian Government has announced plans to empower flood-prone communities to take charge of their own safety as part of efforts to strengthen disaster risk management across the country.
Vice President, Kashim Shettima, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at an event marking the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), themed “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters”.
Shettima said that no level of government preparedness would be effective without active community involvement, noting that true resilience depends on how cities are planned, how businesses protect their workers, and how communities share information and support one another.
He emphasised the importance of collaboration with the private sector, urging companies to integrate disaster risk reduction into corporate planning and investments.
“Our academia and research institutions must help generate the data, innovation, and practical knowledge we need for a safer future,” the Vice President said. “Civil society must also hold us accountable and mobilise citizens for collective preparedness.”
Shettima stressed that empowering communities to manage their safety is central to building national resilience.
“Communities are the foundation of any strategy we adopt, they are the heartbeat of our national preparedness,” he added.
Applauding this year’s IDDRR theme, Shettima said it underscores the importance of proactive investment in resilience rather than waiting to rebuild after disasters strike.
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