The Federal Government has launched the Global Flood Disaster Management Project (GFDMP) to mitigate the effect of climate and improve long-term flood resilience in Nigeria.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, who performed the ceremony on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday, in Abuja, explained that the GFDMP is a multi-year programme designed to move Nigeria from a reactive approach to flood to a proactive and preventive one.
Kyay emphasised that the effects of climate change are continuous, and therefore, solutions would be strategic, coordinated, and sustainable.
He pointed out that “resilience is not built in a moment, but through consistent investment, planning, monitoring, and innovation over time.”
He added that “Federal Government views this project as a major step in tackling climate related disasters that ravage farmlands, displace families, and cripple infrastructure nationwide.”
He highlighted that the four core pillars of the projects are as follows; Advanced Early Warning Systems, Flood Resilient infrastructure, Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer and Community Engagement and Local Participation
He stated that the project would enhance forecasting capacity, introduce real-time monitoring, and deploy digital alert systems to give citizens and government more time to prepare and respond.
The minister revealed that “Nigeria is proud to be part of this global movement. Our government has already prioritised early warning systems, modern hydrological infrastructure, improved disaster-response coordination, and environmental protection.”
He stated that the GFDMP would strengthen and accelerate these priorities, providing global expertise and technological support.
He pledged “full cooperation, active participation, and unwavering commitment to ensuring that this multiyear programme reaches every community that needs it.”
According to him, “Let today mark the beginning of a new era, an era in which nations no longer face floods with fear, but with preparation; no longer with vulnerability, but with resilience; no longer with isolation, but with partnership.”
“The GFDMP gives us a roadmap. What we need now is collective will, consistent investment, and shared resolve. As we launch this initiative, let us remember that flood resilience is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is a responsibility we owe to our citizens today and to our children tomorrow,” he stated.
Kyari lauded “organisations and individuals who have contributed to this visionary multi-year programme. Together, may we build a world where no community must live in fear of the next flood.”
In his welcome address, the Director General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Mohmmed, said that recent flood risk figures represent real families whose livelihoods have been disrupted. He advised that proactive preparedness is far cheaper than emergency response.