Is Nigeria on track? Evaluating disaster risk reduction progress under the Sendai Framework

This blog piece examines Nigeria’s progress toward achieving the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 targets through the four priorities for action.

It explores gaps in risk understanding, governance, investment, and preparedness, while highlighting practical steps needed to strengthen resilience through collaboration among government, communities, civil society, and private stakeholders.

A critical moment for disaster risk reduction

Across the world, extreme weather events and environmental hazards are becoming more frequent and severe. From devastating floods in Asia and Europe to prolonged droughts across Africa, these events continue to test the resilience of countries and communities.

Nigeria is no exception. As Africa’s most populous country, with more than 232 million people and one of the continent’s largest economies, it faces significant disaster risks. Flooding remains the country’s most frequent and destructive hazard, affecting communities from Borno to Bayelsa during almost every rainy season.

The  2022 floods were among the worst in Nigeria’s history. They affected 34 states, claimed more than 600 lives, displaced 1.4 million people, destroyed homes and farmland, and caused estimated economic losses of ₦4.2 trillion. Beyond the immediate impacts, the disaster exposed persistent weaknesses in disaster risk governance, preparedness and investment in prevention.

As the 2030 deadline for the  Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction approaches, an important question remains: is Nigeria on track?

Nigeria has committed to implementing the Sendai Framework through its  National Disaster Risk Management Policy (2018) . The challenge now is translating that commitment into measurable progress. Looking across the Framework’s four priorities highlights both important achievements and areas where greater action is urgently needed.

Understanding disaster risk

Disaster risk arises from the interaction between hazards, exposure and vulnerability. Nigeria has strengthened hazard monitoring through seasonal forecasts, flood mapping and forecasting tools developed by the  Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the  Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

However, significant information gaps remain. Limited integration of demographic data, building inventories, infrastructure mapping and land-use information makes it difficult to build a comprehensive understanding of disaster risk.

Closing these gaps will require stronger collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, civil society organizations and state authorities. Disaster risk information also needs to be updated regularly so that planning reflects rapidly changing conditions.

Other countries provide useful examples. The Philippines has developed  GeoRiskPH , an open multi-hazard risk information platform, while Japan maintains detailed and regularly updated national risk information systems. Nigeria could strengthen decision-making by developing a similarly accessible and transparent national disaster risk database that provides practical information for governments, businesses and communities.

Strengthening disaster risk governance

Effective disaster risk reduction depends on institutions that can coordinate action before, during and after disasters.

Nigeria’s National Disaster Risk Management Policy establishes roles for the  National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and local authorities. However, implementation remains uneven. Many states have limited institutional capacity, while disaster management structures at the local government level remain weak.

Challenges including insufficient funding, limited enforcement of building regulations and weak coordination continue to reduce effectiveness.

The priority now is implementation rather than new policy development. Strengthening accountability, clarifying institutional responsibilities, providing sustainable financing for SEMAs and Local Emergency Management Authorities (LEMAs), and empowering local institutions would enable decisions to be made closer to the communities most exposed to disaster risk.

Investing before disasters occur

The Sendai Framework emphasizes investing in prevention rather than relying primarily on emergency response.

Nigeria continues to devote considerably more resources to responding to disasters than to reducing risk before disasters occur. Greater investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, urban planning, drainage systems, ecosystem restoration and early warning systems would reduce future losses while supporting sustainable development.

Partnerships with telecommunications providers could strengthen the reach of early warnings by delivering alerts directly to citizens.

The private sector also has an important contribution to make. Financial institutions can expand access to resilient financing, insurance providers can develop affordable products for farmers and small businesses, and businesses themselves can integrate disaster risk considerations into investment decisions and supply chains.

Civil society organizations also play an important role by promoting transparency and monitoring public expenditure related to disaster risk management.

Strengthening preparedness at community level

Preparedness depends on ensuring that governments, organizations and communities have the knowledge, skills and systems needed to anticipate, respond to and recover from disasters.

Nigeria has established national preparedness structures, with NEMA and SEMAs developing contingency plans and conducting emergency exercises. However, major gaps remain between national systems and community-level implementation. Many flood-prone communities still receive warnings too late or not at all.

Closing this gap requires more effective dissemination of early warnings through mobile networks, radio broadcasts and community communication systems. It also requires stronger community disaster committees, updated evacuation plans and greater involvement of civil society organizations in preparedness training and public awareness.

Regular simulation exercises, tabletop exercises and multi-agency emergency drills involving government agencies, hospitals, emergency services and local communities would strengthen coordination before disasters occur.

Nigeria could also expand the use of cell broadcast and SMS-based warning systems, drawing on international experience to improve the speed and reach of emergency alerts.

Turning commitment into measurable progress

Monitoring progress should become a central element of Nigeria’s disaster risk reduction efforts.

Institutions including NEMA and the National Bureau of Statistics could publish regular reports on progress towards the Sendai Framework targets, covering disaster mortality, affected populations, preparedness levels and risk reduction outcomes across states and communities.

Making this information publicly accessible would strengthen transparency, accountability and public trust. State emergency management agencies could also maintain updated disaster risk profiles and preparedness dashboards to support evidence-based decision-making.

The Sendai Framework does not call for more policies. It calls for stronger implementation of existing commitments.

As 2030 approaches, Nigeria faces an important choice. It can continue to focus primarily on responding after disasters occur, or it can increase investment in prevention, preparedness and resilience. The opportunity to reduce future disaster losses still exists, but sustained implementation will determine whether the country achieves the ambitions of the Sendai Framework.

Omowaye Emmanuel Pelumi is a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience professional with over five years of experience supporting vulnerable communities in Nigeria in preparing for and recovering from climate-related disasters, especially recurrent flooding. He specialises in community-based DRR initiatives in flood-prone riverine areas, focusing on participatory flood early warning systems, low-cost home resilience, flood-resilient agriculture, and capacity building for smallholder farmers, women, and school children. As Communication Officer at ECOCYKLE Development Foundation, he leads climate awareness, community mobilisation, and advocacy campaigns. He has trained over 2,000 women and youth on sustainable practices and conducted outreach reaching tens of thousands of people. He is passionate about inclusive, community-led approaches to climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. He combines strong technical DRR expertise with excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Taiwo Ogunwumi is a Specialist Advisor in Flood Risk and Disaster Management at Deltares. He applies geospatial science, advanced flood modelling, and GIS-based hazard mapping to reduce vulnerability and build resilience in flood-affected and high-risk regions across Africa, Asia, and Europe. His work converts complex data into actionable insights that strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery strategies. At Deltares, Taiwo leads projects on flood risk and vulnerability assessment, disaster risk preparedness and recovery, geospatial decision support systems, and climate adaptation in refugee and IDP settings. His notable contributions include leading flood risk management for IDP camps in conflict-affected areas of Nigeria (in collaboration with IOM and UNHCR), compound flood hazard mapping in São Tomé and Príncipe and Madagascar, development of a multi-hazard forecasting platform for climate extremes in Iskandar, Malaysia, and flood risk assessments for refugee camps in Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Nigeria. These initiatives have informed national adaptation strategies and humanitarian resilience planning in highly vulnerable regions. He is strongly committed to capacity building and has delivered specialised training on flood impact modelling, early warning systems, preparedness, and recovery for institutions including IOM and Makerere University, enhancing technical capabilities across East and West Africa to manage water-related disasters more effectively.