Vice President Kashim Shettima Friday inaugurated the National Flood, Erosion, Drought, and Desertification Management Council (NFEDDMC).
The council was inaugurated Friday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking after the inaugurating the council, the Vice President stressed the need for a unified response to natural disasters that have increasingly impacted Nigeria.
“This council will chart a new course in the management of nature-induced disasters, moving beyond siloed efforts and fostering a collaborative, resource-sharing model for optimal performance,” he said.
He said each agency involved must be prepared to act promptly, stressing that environmental disasters often require urgent responses.
The Vice President expressed confidence in the council’s ability to confront the challenges posed by climate.
“The journey ahead is challenging, but I believe in the expertise and resolve of our team. Together, we can build a more resilient Nigeria,” he said.
The council’s mandate is to establish a comprehensive approach to combating the growing challenges of environmental and climate-induced disasters, focusing on collaborative efforts across government agencies and regions.
The creation of the council followed recommendations from an updated roadmap on disaster management, developed by a committee led by Kogi State Governor, Usman Ahmed Ododo, under the direction of the National Economic Council (NEC).
The NFEDDMC’s responsibilities include advising the federal government on disaster management strategies, developing a national disaster management strategy with immediate, medium, and long-term measures, and enhancing public awareness of climate resilience practices
The Vice President is the chairman of the council, with Governors of Kogi, Bayelsa, Oyo, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Jigawa states as members.
Other members are Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Minister of State for for Environment, Director-General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Director-General of Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Director-General of National Water Resources Institute and Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency.
Others include the Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority, Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Managing Director of North East Development Commission and the representatives of development partners.
