The National Economic Council has approved ₦83.2 billion for interventions under the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF) to reduce the impact of flooding and other climate-related emergencies across Nigeria.

The approval was granted at the council’s 158th meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, following a presentation by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on the need for proactive disaster management ahead of the rainy season.

Council members stressed the importance of shifting from reactive responses to preventive strategies aimed at reducing losses from recurring floods and other natural disasters.

Vice President Kashim Shettima said government policies must be assessed based on their real impact on citizens, particularly farmers, manufacturers, vulnerable groups, unemployed youths and future generations.

He added that no Nigerian should be left behind in the country’s development agenda and called for policies that better protect the most vulnerable.

On economic direction, Shettima also urged a shift away from dependence on raw material exports toward value-added production and industrialisation.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Governor Bassey Otu said the council approved ₦83.21 billion, representing 50 per cent of the ₦166.42 billion initially requested by the ministry.

He noted that NEC acknowledged the rising threat of annual flooding and agreed that preventive investment is now necessary to reduce future economic and humanitarian losses.