Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Adam Kambari has stated that Nigeria must transit from reactive measures to a proactive and sustainable approach to flood risk management.
The Permanent Secretary stated this in his keynote address at the Technical Committee Meeting (TCM) on the development of the National Flood Insurance Policy and Implementation Framework in Abuja.
According to Kambari, Nigeria is grappling with unprecedented flooding events that have wreaked havoc across various states, notably Borno, Adamawa, Kogi, Ondo, Jigawa, Anambra, etc.
According to the Permanent Secretary, reports by the Federal Ministry of Environment, NEMA, and the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), “shows that several states across Nigeria experienced severe flooding in 2024.
In September 2024, Borno State experienced catastrophic flooding following the collapse of the Alau Dam on the 10th of September, 2024. This disaster led to the submersion of approximately 70% of Maiduguri, the state capital, displacing over 419,000 individuals and resulting in the tragic loss of over 30 lives. The United Nations described this as the most severe flood to impact the region since the flood of 1994, affecting more than one million people.
In Kogi State, over 2 million people were displaced, and more than 200 communities submerged, with approximately 60,000 hectares of land affected. Nine local government areas, including Lokoja, Ibaji, and Adavi, were among the hardest hit. “Also, a report from Anambra State indicated that flooding impacted about 54,422 individuals across seven local government areas, displacing 21,083 residents with the disaster claiming about 29 lives. And early in the year, Kwara State experienced significant flooding that severely impacted agricultural communities, particularly in Shonga, Edu Local Government Area. The flooding was attributed to the unexpected release of water from the Jebba and Kainji dams, which submerged over 5,000 hectares of rice farmlands. About 1,000 farmers were affected, with an estimated loss exceeding ₦11.5 billion. Recently, on 28th May, 2025, about 3,000 people were displaced, about 200 lives lost, more than 265 houses were destroyed, and 503 households impacted from flooding in Mokwa, Niger State.
These events are symptomatic of a broader pattern of increasing flood incidents across Nigeria, exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and inadequate infrastructure.
The Permanent Secretary noted that in the light of these recurring disasters, it is imperative that Nugeria transit from reactive measures to a proactive and sustainable approach to flood risk management. He further stressed that the establishment of a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as encapsulated in Section C 2.4.3 (iv) of the National Erosion and Flood Control Policy (NEFCOP) stands as a cornerstone of this strategy.
He also stated: “Such a program would: Provide financial resilience by offering a safety net for individuals, businesses, and communities, enabling swift recovery from flood-induced losses.
Alleviate government expenditure by reducing the fiscal burden on federal and state resources allocated for emergency relief and reconstruction.
Institutionalize risk-sharing and coordinated flood risk mitigation among the federal, state, and local governments, as well as private sector stakeholders, particularly floodplain developers.
“Our collective mission during this meeting is to lay the groundwork for an effective and all, inclusive NFIP. To achieve this, we will focus on:
Comprehensive Analysis: Delving into the underlying causes of recent flood events, such as those in Borno, Jigawa, Ondo, Anambra, Benue, Delta, etc. to inform our policy framework.
Stakeholder Engagement: We will have to bring together government entities, insurance industry leaders, environmental experts, and community representatives to foster a collaborative approach in developing a holistic sustainable flood insurance program.
Policy Formulation: Crafting a robust insurance policy that addresses the unique challenges posed by flooding in Nigeria, ensuring accessibility and affordability for all citizens.
Implementation Roadmap: Establishing clear timelines, responsibilities, and monitoring mechanisms to translate policy into actionable outcomes.
“The escalating frequency and severity of flood events demand immediate and decisive action. As participants in this TCM, your expertise, insights, and commitment are invaluable. Let us approach this task with unwavering commitment and purpose, knowing that the lives, livelihoods, and future resilience of our communities depend on the solutions we craft today.
“In conclusion, the recent floods across the country serve as stark reminders of our nation’s vulnerability to natural disasters. However, they also present an opportunity—a clarion call to innovate, collaborate, and implement strategies that will safeguard our people and our progress.
I am confident that with the collective will and concerted efforts of all stakeholders present, we can establish a National Flood Insurance Program that stands as a model of resilience and foresight.
On this note, I declare this TCM open and look forward to the fruitful deliberations and actionable outcomes that will emerge.
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