Vice President directs NEMA, Anticipatory Action Task Force and key agencies to operationalise ‘Fusion and Trigger Room’ as Federal Government shifts from emergency response to proactive flood preparedness
By Amarachi Odenigbo – June 25, 2026
ABUJA, Nigeria — With meteorological agencies warning of heightened flood risks across several states this rainy season, the Federal Government has intensified efforts to prevent another humanitarian disaster by ordering the immediate activation of a national early warning and emergency coordination system.
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday directed the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant institutions to operationalise the proposed Fusion and Trigger Room—a central platform designed to coordinate disaster forecasting, early warning signals, resource deployment and rapid intervention before floods strike vulnerable communities.
The directive was issued during a meeting of the Anticipatory Action Task Force held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The latest move signals a strategic policy shift from responding to disasters after they occur to anticipating risks and preventing large-scale destruction through coordinated planning.
Shettima Demands Proactive Disaster Management
Speaking at the meeting, Vice President Shettima stressed that climate-related disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, making proactive governance imperative.
He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to institutionalising preparedness as the cornerstone of Nigeria’s disaster management strategy.
According to the Vice President, government agencies must no longer wait for floods and other emergencies to occur before mobilising interventions.
“We are called to act early, to reduce losses before they multiply, and to protect vulnerable communities before crises unfold around them,” he said.
He explained that the proposed Fusion and Trigger Room would serve as a national coordination hub responsible for monitoring climate risks, analysing data, activating response thresholds and coordinating decisions among relevant institutions.
New National Coordination Centre to Drive Early Action
Under the directive, technical consultations are to begin immediately to establish the Fusion and Trigger Room within NEMA.
The platform is expected to integrate meteorological forecasts, hydrological data, humanitarian intelligence and emergency response planning into one operational framework.
Officials say the initiative will improve communication among federal agencies, state governments, humanitarian organisations and development partners, enabling authorities to act before disasters escalate.
Analysts describe the initiative as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious attempts to institutionalise anticipatory disaster management.
Agencies Ordered to Update Budgets and Fast-Track Implementation
The Vice President further instructed NEMA, the Anticipatory Action Task Force and technical teams to review existing implementation plans and immediately align their budgets with recently approved funding allocations.
He warned against bureaucratic delays that often undermine emergency preparedness.
According to him, funds earmarked for disaster prevention must be released and deployed promptly rather than waiting until emergencies occur.
“To wait until disaster strikes before releasing what we have already approved is to defeat the very purpose of acting early,” Shettima stated.
He emphasised that anticipatory action depends on speed, coordination and institutional readiness.
State Governments Asked to Take Ownership
Recognising that flooding affects communities differently across the country, the Vice President called on governors and state institutions to play more active roles in disaster preparedness.
He argued that federal coordination alone cannot effectively manage flood emergencies without strong collaboration from subnational governments.
Shettima pledged continued engagement with governors and other stakeholders to ensure that disaster preparedness translates into measurable outcomes at community level.
Experts have long advocated stronger coordination between federal and state authorities, noting that delayed local responses often worsen humanitarian crises.
Humanitarian Minister Hails Funding Approval
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, described the Federal Government’s approval of funds for anticipatory flood action as both timely and strategic.
He called for centralised implementation of flood intervention programmes while leveraging existing national social registers and digital payment platforms to deliver assistance efficiently to vulnerable populations.
According to the minister, close collaboration with state governments will be critical in ensuring that emergency support reaches affected communities promptly.
United Nations Commends Nigeria’s Leadership
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, praised the Tinubu administration for demonstrating political commitment to disaster risk reduction.
He described anticipatory action as one of the most effective investments governments can make in protecting lives and livelihoods.
According to Fall, Nigeria’s decision to finance early intervention could serve as a model for other African countries facing similar climate-related challenges.
“Whenever Nigeria undertakes initiatives of this magnitude, they often become a blueprint for the rest of the continent,” he said.
Development partners also reaffirmed their willingness to support Nigeria’s disaster preparedness initiatives through technical assistance and humanitarian collaboration.
NEMA Prioritises High-Risk Communities
Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar, disclosed that the agency has already identified priority flood-prone areas and issued early warning advisories ahead of the peak rainy season.
She said the ₦83.2 billion intervention fund recently approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) would significantly strengthen preventive measures aimed at reducing casualties and protecting livelihoods.
The funds are expected to support evacuation planning, emergency shelters, humanitarian relief, public awareness campaigns and rapid deployment of emergency personnel.
Background: Rising Flood Risks Across Nigeria
Nigeria has witnessed increasingly devastating floods in recent years, resulting in thousands of deaths, widespread displacement, destruction of farmland, damaged infrastructure and billions of naira in economic losses.
Climate experts attribute the growing frequency of floods to changing weather patterns, poor urban planning, blocked drainage systems, deforestation and inadequate investment in flood-control infrastructure.
The Federal Government’s latest intervention comes as seasonal rainfall intensifies across many parts of the country, raising concerns about potential flooding in several states already identified as high-risk zones.
Vice President Kashim Shettima’s directive to activate a national early warning and coordination platform marks a significant policy shift in Nigeria’s approach to disaster management.
If effectively implemented, the Fusion and Trigger Room could improve early warning systems, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and reduce the devastating impact of annual floods on vulnerable communities.
However, analysts note that the success of the initiative will ultimately depend on sustained funding, timely implementation, effective coordination among all tiers of government and strong political commitment beyond policy announcements.
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