By Faridat Salifu
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), African Union Commission, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have collaborated to implement risk-informed solutions to Nigeria’s climate change challenges.
The bodies made their contribution known during an Expert Workshop on Early Warning For All and the National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Strategic and Action Plan 2023-2030.
The workshop which took place in Abuja on Monday is part of the larger Sahel Resilience Project, which focuses on bolstering capacities for disaster risk reduction and adaptation in the Sahel region.
Speaking during the workshop, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, called for a well-structured action plan to tackle the increasing disaster risks facing Nigeria.
She highlighted the significance of the current destructive flood experiences in the rainy season, noting that it as a critical backdrop for reviewing national preparedness and response frameworks to national emergencies.
The workshop, was seen as a right step by resource persons at the workshop towards enhancing disaster resilience, aligned with the recent findings of an assessment conducted by the Overseas Development Institute for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This assessment revealed the urgent necessity for improved DRR strategies in response to Nigeria’s escalating challenges, particularly from conflicts and severe flooding, which have become increasingly frequent.
The NEMA leader said: “As a nation situated in the vulnerable Sahel region, Nigeria faces daunting challenges exacerbated by poverty, environmental degradation, and climate change.
“This workshop will steer our efforts towards aligning Nigeria’s strategies with the Sendai Framework and the African Programme of Action, aimed at bolstering disaster resilience,” she said.
She urged participants comprising government officials, local stakeholders, and international partners—to prioritize practical disaster prevention strategies noting that the goal is to create a robust action plan that extends beyond the year 2030,
Mrs. Umar noted that the focus ought to be about addressing not only current risks but also forthcoming hazards that may arise due to changing climatic conditions and socio-political factors.
She pointed out that an evaluation of NEMA’s current disaster risk management strategies has uncovered a critical gap in comprehensive planning, revealing an immediate need for new approaches that consider emerging hazards in a constantly changing environment.
“The continuous rise of conflicts, banditry, and annual flooding incidents, combined with extreme weather patterns, has instigated the drive for the development of this new DRR Strategy and Action Plan for Nigeria,” she stated.