The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has allocated $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support flood preparedness efforts in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, said the funding aims to mitigate the impact of anticipated floods, particularly in northern states, where flooding often leads to food insecurity and disease outbreaks.
The UN emphasized the importance of proactive measures in reducing the risks associated with floods, stating that acting ahead of crises saves lives, protects livelihoods, and lowers the overall cost of humanitarian responses.
The $5 million CERF allocation is part of a broader collaboration involving Nigerian agencies such as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency, with support from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Fall highlighted the need for anticipatory action in response to predictable disasters, noting that a proactive approach is crucial amid declining global humanitarian funding.
“Anticipating and acting ahead of crises such as floods saves lives. It also helps to protect livelihoods, which in turn reduces people’s vulnerability,” Fall stated.
The CERF funding complements government-led efforts through the anticipatory action task force, which seeks to minimize the impacts of floods by preparing in advance.
Additionally, Nigeria’s 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan has earmarked 5 percent ($45 million) of its total budget for anticipatory action. However, more funds are urgently needed to scale up early interventions and address increasing flood risks.
