The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has secured significant funding support for Nigeria’s 2025 flood response and mitigation efforts, following a strategic presentation delivered by its Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday, 31st July, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The high-level meeting, chaired by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, brought together governors of the 36 states, key ministers, and senior government functionaries to discuss pressing national socio-economic and environmental issues, with the looming threat of widespread flooding taking center stage.
In her presentation, the DG of NEMA provided the Council with a comprehensive overview of the current flood situation across the country. She detailed the Agency’s proactive flood preparedness plan, including recent risk assessments, mapping of vulnerable areas, early warning dissemination efforts, and the activation of coordinated response mechanisms aimed at minimizing loss of lives and property during the anticipated flood season.
Mrs. Umar emphasized that forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had indicated high flood risks in multiple states, particularly in coastal, riverine, and low-lying regions. She warned that urgent, well-coordinated interventions were necessary to avert a humanitarian and environmental crisis, citing past incidents where delayed actions led to avoidable disasters.
Her presentation was followed by robust deliberations, during which Council members acknowledged the urgency of the situation and the need for timely interventions. Subsequently, the National Economic Council approved a far-reaching financial package to support nationwide flood mitigation, preparedness, and response activities. The funding breakdown is as follows:
* **₦3 billion** each to the **36 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)** for localized flood preparedness and response;
* **₦10 billion** to **NEMA** to support national-level coordination, emergency logistics, relief distribution, and disaster recovery operations;
* **₦1.5 billion** each to the **Federal Ministry of Environment**, **Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation**, and **Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning** for integrated environmental and infrastructural flood control projects.
In her remarks following the approval, Mrs. Zubaida Umar expressed deep appreciation to the Vice President and members of the Council for what she described as “a timely, strategic, and life-saving intervention.”
“This critical funding will enhance our national capacity to pre-position relief materials, deploy rapid response teams, and collaborate effectively with State Governments and partners on early actions that can save lives and protect livelihoods,” she said.
She further assured the Council of NEMA’s commitment to ensuring that the funds are used transparently, accountably, and strictly for the intended purpose. “We remain fully committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability and efficiency in the utilization of public resources. We will deploy these funds to safeguard the lives and wellbeing of our citizens in this critical period,” she added.
The DG also reiterated NEMA’s resolve to continue working closely with stakeholders at all levels—including state emergency management agencies (SEMAs), international partners, civil society actors, and local communities—to ensure a seamless, inclusive, and people-centered emergency response.
With this strategic approval by the NEC, Nigeria has taken a decisive step toward reducing the devastating impacts of seasonal floods, strengthening community resilience, and reinforcing a culture of disaster preparedness across the country.
