NEC approves N83.2bn to tackle flooding, climate emergencies nationwide

By Seun Ibiyemi

The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved N83.2 billion for interventions aimed at mitigating the impact of anticipated flooding and other climate-related emergencies across Nigeria.

The approval was granted on Thursday during the 158th meeting of the Council chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The intervention fund will be deployed through the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF) to proactively address flooding and disaster risks, particularly during the ongoing rainy season.

The approval followed a presentation by the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, who highlighted the urgent need to prepare for and mitigate the effects of flooding and related emergencies across the country.

Council members noted the importance of adopting proactive measures in disaster management, stressing that NEC should not continue to be perceived as merely reacting to emergencies after they occur.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice President Shettima said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was focused on ensuring that ongoing economic reforms translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

He said the success of government policies should be measured by their impact on ordinary citizens, particularly farmers, manufacturers, vulnerable groups, unemployed youths and future generations.

“When this Council last met, I called our economy a workshop—a place of measurement and correction, where plans are turned into systems and systems into institutions before any of it becomes prosperity,” the Vice President said.

According to him, Nigeria is gradually transitioning from economic stabilisation to production-driven growth, with greater emphasis on implementation and coordinated national development.

Shettima also urged state governments to collaborate with the Federal Government in addressing logistical challenges and compliance requirements that hinder Nigerian agricultural products from accessing international markets.

He stressed the need for Nigeria to move beyond exporting raw materials and focus on building complete value chains that connect farms to factories, factories to standards, standards to ports and ports to global markets.

“We cannot continue to export raw materials and import finished prosperity,” he said.

The Vice President further pledged that the Council would address bottlenecks affecting agricultural exports, particularly issues relating to port operations and compliance with international standards.

According to him, efficient movement of goods and adherence to global quality standards are essential for rewarding farmers, strengthening local industries and expanding Nigeria’s share of international trade.

“A nation that cannot move its goods has imprisoned its own farmers. Meeting international standards is not submission to foreign demand. It is the price of the markets that will reward our labour,” he added.

Shettima also underscored the importance of strengthening social protection programmes, describing them as a means of protecting vulnerable citizens while enhancing human capital development.

He maintained that national prosperity must be inclusive and that no Nigerian should be left behind in the country’s development journey.

The N83.2 billion intervention is expected to support preparedness, risk reduction and emergency response efforts as authorities intensify measures to mitigate the impact of flooding and other climate-related disasters across the federation.