Shettima Activates Early Flood Response Platform in Nigeria

On Thursday, Vice President Kashim Shettima directed the immediate activation of the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF) during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He stressed the necessity for a decisive shift towards proactive disaster preparedness as Nigeria approaches its peak rainy season.

Shettima instructed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and relevant agencies to review and update budget lines to establish clear priorities for implementing flood management strategies. He highlighted the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters and called for early action to reduce losses and protect vulnerable communities.

Shettima ordered the establishment of a technical consultative operational framework within NEMA to monitor forecasts and trigger inter-agency decisions. He warned against bureaucratic delays in releasing already approved funds for emergency responses.

Additionally, he urged state governors to take ownership of flood preparedness efforts within their jurisdictions. The government has approved an anticipatory action fund of 83.2 billion naira to support these initiatives.