Nigeria has taken a major step toward combating the country’s recurring flood disasters with the launch of a $500 million fundraising campaign dedicated to building stronger, safer, and more resilient communities.
The initiative—Global Flood Disaster Management Project (GFDMP)—was unveiled by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in collaboration with key national and international partners, under the theme “Stay Afloat.”
At the launch, the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, described flooding as a growing global threat that disrupts livelihoods, undermines food production, destroys infrastructure, and deepens poverty across Nigeria.
He explained that climate change continues to intensify the scale and frequency of the disasters.
Kyari noted that the GFDMP will introduce modern hydrological tools, real-time monitoring systems, and digital alert mechanisms that allow at-risk communities to prepare before floods strike.
He added that the project will also invest in resilient infrastructure such as improved drainage systems, river embankments, wetland rehabilitation, and climate-smart urban planning.
NIHSA Director-General Umar Mohammed stressed that flood figures represent real people whose lives and livelihoods have been altered by displacement and loss. He explained that preparedness remains far cheaper and more humane than emergency response after disasters occur.
Mohammed said the initiative aligns with the National Flood Emergency Preparedness Framework and supports the government’s wider climate-resilience agenda.
He called for shared responsibility, noting that long-term protection requires sustained investment from government, the private sector, development partners, and philanthropic institutions.
Chairman of the House Committee on Hydrological Services, Dr. Pascal Agbodike, pledged strong legislative backing for the initiative, while NIHSA Board Chairman, Prof. Salihu Mustapha, emphasized that every Nigerian has a role in flood prevention, from community vigilance to responsible construction and land use.
With many states still recovering from this year’s floods, the newly launched fund provides a critical opportunity to reduce future losses and strengthen national resilience.
