NEC Approves N83.2bn Flood Intervention Fund, Shifts Focus to Disaster Prevention

The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the release of ₦83.21 billion for flood preparedness and climate disaster mitigation efforts across Nigeria, marking a significant shift towards proactive disaster management as the country braces for the peak of the 2026 rainy season.

The approval was granted at Thursday’s NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The intervention represents 50 per cent of the ₦166.42 billion proposal presented to the Council by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning through the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF), a body established to coordinate early responses to flooding and other climate-related emergencies.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State said the Council deliberately adopted a preventive approach to disaster management, departing from the traditional practice of responding only after disasters had occurred.

According to him, the approval underscores the government’s determination to reduce the impact of annual flooding, which has repeatedly devastated communities, displaced residents and destroyed infrastructure across several states.

“This is the first time, as a nation, that we are taking proactive steps. Most times, we wait until floods have caused significant damage before taking action. This time, under the leadership of the Chairman of the Council, the Vice President, we are taking proactive measures to mitigate the potential impact of flooding, which has become a recurring challenge,” Otu said.

He explained that NEC recognised the increasing threat posed by climate-related disasters and agreed that government institutions must move beyond emergency relief efforts to preventive interventions capable of saving lives and reducing economic losses.

“Council underscored the importance of the Anticipatory Action Task Force in addressing disasters and climate-related emergencies across the country. Members agreed that NEC must not always be seen reacting to disasters after they occur but should take steps to prevent or mitigate their impact,” he added.

On why the Council approved only half of the requested amount, Otu said the decision reflected the need to balance available resources with the urgency of immediate intervention.

“We felt it was important to begin putting measures in place. As we evaluate and assess the situation going forward, the council will certainly make additional provisions where necessary.

“You also have to look at the intervention within the context of available resources. The idea is to deploy what is currently available in a proactive manner and establish mechanisms that can reduce the impact of flooding before it occurs.

“That is essentially why the council decided to reduce the proposal by 50 per cent. As we move forward and continue to evaluate the situation, more adequate provisions can be made where required,” he said.

The approval comes amid forecasts of severe flooding in several parts of the country and growing calls for stronger climate resilience measures at both federal and state levels.

NEC Reviews New Regional Development Policy

Beyond flood preparedness, the Council also considered a proposal aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s regional development architecture through the introduction of the National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) 2026–2030.

Presenting the proposal, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf said the policy was designed to address longstanding development disparities among Nigeria’s regions and provide a coordinated framework for balanced national growth.

According to him, the proposed policy seeks to strengthen oversight of regional development programmes, improve coordination among regional development commissions and align interventions with the country’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2026–2030.

Yusuf noted that the initiative became necessary due to persistent spatial inequalities, fragmented development interventions and the need to institutionalise global best practices in regional planning.

He explained that the framework would guide the preparation and implementation of regional development master plans in collaboration with state governments while enhancing the effectiveness of regional development commissions.

The proposed policy is also expected to support key priorities of the Tinubu administration, including economic growth, food security, national security, energy development, infrastructure expansion, healthcare, education, industrialisation, social investment, innovation and the digital economy.

Among the proposals presented to the Council were the formal endorsement of the NRDP 2026–2030, approval of a Regional Development Policy Framework, support for adoption of the policy by state governments and backing for the establishment of a Regional Development Bank.

Following deliberations, NEC directed the Minister of Regional Development to circulate the draft policy to state governors for review and further input.

The Council also mandated consultations with the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) to ensure broad sub-national participation and ownership of the framework.

NEC said the proposed policy would deepen cooperation between the federal and state governments, strengthen the operations of regional development commissions and provide a coordinated strategy for tackling development imbalances across the federation.