SEO Riders:
– New policy emphasizes proactive flood risk reduction beyond emergency response.
– Focuses on flood insurance, land-use planning, early warning systems, and infrastructure resilience.
– Aims to protect over 15 million at-risk Nigerians and curb economic losses from annual flood events.
The Nigerian government has officially adopted a comprehensive National Flood Disaster Policy aimed at transitioning from reactive emergency responses to proactive, preventive flood management. The policy outlines nine strategic pillars, including flood insurance, structural engineering (like embankments and river dredging), risk-informed land-use planning, and community education and early warning systems. It builds on successful initiatives like the NEWMAP project—which restored gully sites and installed stormwater controls benefiting 12 million Nigerians—and addresses perennial flood challenges exacerbated by climate change and infrastructure gaps.
The move follows devastating flood events in recent months, including the 2025 Mokwa flood in Niger State that claimed over 200 lives and displaced thousands. The policy also complements the National Flood Insurance Programme, which aims to establish a financial safety net, reduce relief spending, and foster shared responsibility among federal, state, local governments, and the private sector. With 15 million Nigerians at high flood risk across 30 states, the new policy represents a critical pivot toward resilience—balancing infrastructure upgrades, better governance, climate-smart planning, community empowerment, and financial risk-sharing
