The Federal Government has announced plans to disburse ₦6.3 billion in interest-free loans to 21,000 Nigerians affected by recent flood disasters across the country.
Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a roundtable marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
According to Sununu, the initiative aims to cushion the impact of flooding and strengthen food security nationwide.
“In the next few weeks, 21,000 Nigerians will receive interest-free, collateral-free loans of ₦300,000 each. This intervention is designed to support farmers and strengthen communities affected by flooding,” he said.
The minister revealed that through the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), the government has already reached over 8.1 million households with more than ₦300 billion in Conditional Cash Transfers.
“This support has improved the resilience, health, and education of many vulnerable households. The process will continue under the Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” Sununu added.
He also unveiled a new empowerment scheme for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Under the initiative, IDPs will retain 30% of their produce, while the government will off-take 70% and provide direct cash payments to participants.
In her remarks, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, emphasized the need for stronger preventive measures against climate-related disasters.
She noted that Nigeria continues to face growing threats from climate change, conflicts, pandemics, and technological hazards, calling for a shift from reactive to proactive disaster management approaches.
Umar also announced the launch of two major policy frameworks — the NEMA Strategic Plan (2025–2029) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030) — aimed at guiding future disaster preparedness and resilience-building efforts.
“These frameworks promote innovation in financing, institutional collaboration, and risk-informed development,” she stated.
The NEMA boss further revealed that a National Risk Monitoring and Information Platform is being developed to enhance early warning systems and data-driven decision-making.
She called for the adoption of innovative financing models, including catastrophe bonds, climate funds, and blended finance, to sustain disaster prevention and recovery initiatives.
The event, which focused on building resilience against climate-related disasters, was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, lawmakers, and international development partners.
According to NEMA’s 2025 Flood Dashboard, as of October 10, 2025, at least 238 people have died, 135,764 displaced, and 409,714 affected by floods nationwide.
Flood-related casualties have been recorded across multiple states, underscoring the urgent need for sustained climate adaptation and resilience measures.
