Nigeria allocates 83 billion naira to a fund to combat climate disasters
Boubacar Sani – Nigeria
Nigeria’s National Economic Council has approved the allocation of 83.21 billion naira for nationwide flood prevention and climate disaster mitigation efforts.
The council reduced the initial funding request of 166.42 billion naira, submitted by the Federal Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, by 50%, according to The Punch newspaper.
The approval came during the 158th meeting of the National Economic Council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the Presidential Palace in Abuja, as part of the federal government’s efforts to adopt a more proactive and effective approach to dealing with recurring floods and climate-related disasters.
In a press briefing following the meeting, Cross River State Governor Basi Otto revealed that the council had approved the allocation of 83.21 billion naira to implement interventions by the Task Force on Proactive Action, designed to mitigate the effects of anticipated flooding and other environmental emergencies across the state.
According to Otto, the council approved only half of the proposed budget as an initial intervention, reserving the option of additional funding after assessing the program's effectiveness.
He added: “The Council approved an amount of 83.2 billion Naira, equivalent to 50%, of the proposed budget for the Proactive Response Task Force, with plans to review the framework at subsequent meetings.”.
Conflicting financial needs make Nigeria cautious in its funding.
Sources familiar with the discussions reported that the National Executive Council opted for a cautious funding approach due to conflicting financial needs, despite recognizing the urgent need to address the country's annual flooding crisis.
In explaining the decision, Otto said that this approval is the first serious attempt by government authorities to act before disasters occur, rather than responding after losses of life and property have taken place.
He explained: “This is the first time that we, as a country, have taken proactive steps. Most of the time, we wait until floods cause serious damage before taking any action. This intervention aims to prevent that.”.
Plateau State Governor Caleb Motfuang described the allocation process as the first phase of a broader strategy that will eventually include long-term infrastructure projects such as reservoirs and flood control systems.
The country faces threats from flooding.
He noted that states still face threats from climate change-induced flooding, as well as the periodic release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, affecting many communities across Nigeria.
“Most interventions usually come after heavy losses have occurred,” said Motfuang. “This time, the government is taking preventative measures before the floods arrive.”.
This development comes amid growing concerns about forecasts of heavy rainfall and flooding in several states during the 2026 rainy season.
At the same time, the National Economic Council also considered a proposal for a national policy for regional development (2026-2030) aimed at addressing regional inequalities and improving coordination among regional development commissions.
The Council directed the Minister of Regional Development to contact the state governors and the Nigeria Governors Forum for further consultations before finalizing the policy.
Plans to boost Nigeria's agricultural export sector
In a separate presentation, the council reviewed plans to boost Nigeria’s agricultural export sector by achieving full compliance with international ship and port security standards and removing export barriers.
Governors were informed that although crude oil still accounts for about 80% of Nigeria’s export earnings, the country has untapped agricultural export potential estimated at about US$50 billion, linked to staple commodities such as sesame, ginger, soybeans and cashew nuts.
Subsequently, the National Economic Council approved measures to improve export infrastructure, prioritize compliance with international port security standards, and move forward with plans to establish a specialized national council for agricultural exports.
The adoption of the Flood Intervention Fund signals a shift towards preventative disaster management, although concerns persist about whether the reduced allocation will be sufficient to address the scale of flood risks facing vulnerable communities across the country.
