At least 15 million Nigerians are at risk of flood-related disasters in 2025, Vice President Kashim Shettima has warned.

Speaking on Wednesday at the launch of a one-day Validation Workshop on the Anticipatory Action Framework for Nigeria, held at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre in Abuja, the Vice President emphasised the Federal Government’s shift from reactive to proactive disaster management.

He called for greater collaboration among federal and state agencies to combat the threat of flooding and other natural disasters.

“Nigeria currently loses around 5% of its Gross Domestic Product to flooding,” Shettima said.

He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦15 billion for emergency response efforts.

The Vice President also addressed the recent attacks in Plateau State, offering condolences to affected families and urging a non-kinetic approach to addressing the security challenges in the region and the North-East.

“There can never be a military solution to the crisis in Plateau or the North-East,” he said.

Last week, the Federal Government forecasted heavy rainfall and flooding in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

States identified as high flood-risk areas include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, noted that coastal and riverine flooding will likely affect parts of the South-South due to rising sea levels. Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers are expected to be most affected, with Akwa Ibom and Edo also at high risk.