A youth-led disaster management coalition has called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to abandon its reactive approach to flooding and adopt a comprehensive disaster risk management framework. The appeal follows devastating floods that destroyed homes, businesses, and farmlands across the state, exposing glaring gaps in preparedness despite early warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and billions of naira allocated in the state budget for flood mitigation.
Coalition demands shift from reactive to proactive disaster response
In a statement signed on Friday by its Chairperson, Margaret Jameson, and Secretary, Enobong Ekanem, the Akwa Ibom State Youth-Led Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response Committee highlighted the limitations of relying primarily on emergency response after a crisis occurs. “The recurring nature of flooding in Akwa Ibom State demonstrates that disasters can no longer be managed solely through emergency response after they occur,” the committee stated. “There is an urgent need to shift from a reactive approach to a proactive, risk-informed, and resilience-focused disaster management system.”
The committee noted that climate change, rapid urbanisation, inadequate drainage infrastructure, indiscriminate waste disposal, and development in flood-prone areas continue to heighten the vulnerability of communities statewide. It called on Governor Umo Eno’s administration to urgently operationalise the Akwa Ibom State Disaster Risk Management Framework, which was developed through a participatory process involving young professionals and disaster risk advocates.
Framework submitted to Deputy Governor in August 2025
The framework, submitted to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi, in August 2025, provides a roadmap for strengthening disaster governance, improving early warning systems, and integrating climate adaptation into development. The coalition’s demand arises from growing scrutiny of the state’s disaster readiness, particularly given the early flood warnings from NiMet and the significant funds budgeted for flood mitigation.
The committee emphasised that the recent flooding highlights the limitations of a reactive approach and called for immediate action to implement the framework. “There is an urgent need to shift from a reactive approach to a proactive, risk-informed, and resilience-focused disaster management system,” the committee reiterated.
