News
NEMA, PULA ADVISORS Partnership: Anambra, Benue, Kebbi, Kogi Approve Flood Protection Pilot for 100,000 Riverine Households
Cyril Ogar
Four of Nigeria’s most flood-prone states have approved a landmark pilot programme to protect riverine households, under a new partnership between the Federal Government, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and global risk financing firm, PULA Advisors.
Anambra, Benue, Kebbi, and Kogi states will lead the first phase of the Riverine Household Flood Protection Pilot, which will cover 100,000 households identified as most vulnerable in the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook.
The approval was announced on Wednesday in Abuja at the close of a two-day Technical Workshop on the pilot exercise, jointly convened by NEMA and PULA Advisors.
Speaking at the event, PULA Advisors’ Country Director, Dr. Mike Enahoro, said the pilot would be data-driven, with a clear path for expansion after evaluation.
“In arriving at the selected states for this pilot phase, data from Federal Government Agencies was used, and the watchword was vulnerability. The pilot phase will see 100,000 household covered in this scheme, mind you, we will relay on accurate data for the most vulnerable households to be captured. There is possibility of scaling up after a holistic assessment of the pilot phase.” He stated.
Appreciating NEMA’s leadership, Dr. Enahoro noted that “NEMA leadership has been talking with PULA Advisors in finding a lasting solution and reducing the impact on people vulnerable to floodings.”
Also speaking, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar Abubakar, said the initiative signals a shift from disaster response to disaster prevention, in line with the agency’s 2026-2029 strategic plan.
“This initiative also reflects the federal government’s commitment to strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction and NEMA’s strategic plan 2026-2029 also put priorities on early warning and disaster risk financing.
“The 2026 Annual Flood Outlook again lists about 23 states at high risk of flooding, and the four pilot are in the list of high risk and most vulnerable.
“This reality further demands we move beyond responding to disaster after they occur. We must embrace innovative approaches that anticipate risk, reduce vulnerabilities, and provide timely financial protection for those most at risk,” Abubakar stated.
The pilot will deploy disaster risk financing tools to provide timely financial protection to households living along riverbanks before floods occur.
With all four states now on board, implementation is expected to commence immediately, targeting riverine communities in Anambra, Benue, Kebbi, and Kogi.
The workshop marks a significant step in the journey of the Riverine Households Flood Protection Pilot, which represents a bold and forward-looking initiative that leverages Disaster Risk Financing to strengthen resilience before disasters strike.
News
DNKI President Champions Humanitarian Service, Sustainable Community Development
Cyril Samania
The President of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Chief Oliver Patrick Ityohegh, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable people and improving community welfare beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day.
Ityohegh stated this during the organisation’s Cauldron Night and Award Presentation held to commemorate its 2026 Humanitarian Day celebration, theme: “Humanity First: Advancing Hope, Dignity and Community Well-being.” organised by the DNKI Abuja Chapter.
He emphasised that humanitarian service should be a continuous responsibility driven by compassion, solidarity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.
According to him, DNKI’s humanitarian activities reflect its dedication to giving back to society and supporting people in need, while encouraging members to sustain initiatives that promote human dignity and community well-being.
He added that the organisation would continue to strengthen its humanitarian engagements through practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and promoting community development.
Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Chapter Chairman and Chairman of its Advisory Council, Prince Efiong Okpe, said the organisation’s humanitarian activities extended beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day on October 15.
Okpe explained that DNKI undertook several initiatives throughout the year, including blood donation exercises, visits to hospitals and correctional centres, as well as support for orphanages and other vulnerable groups.
According to him, the organisation also collaborated with humanitarian bodies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to identify areas of need and provide assistance within its available resources.
He described Humanitarian Day as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to service and demonstrate solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of the DNKI Gwagwalada Zone, Mr Etudaiye Hamzat, disclosed that the chapter had provided financial assistance to some members to help pay their children’s school fees, alongside distributing bags of rice and other relief items to members experiencing hardship.
Hamzat explained that the interventions followed concerns over the difficulties some members faced in meeting their family responsibilities, particularly the rising cost of their children’s education.
He maintained that supporting members in need was consistent with the organisation’s humanitarian principles, adding that DNKI remained committed to extending assistance to non-members and vulnerable communities as part of its commitment to leading by example.
Looking ahead, Hamzat said the Abuja Chapter planned to expand its humanitarian outreach to remote communities within the FCT, with particular attention to orphanages, schools and widows facing difficulties in meeting their family responsibilities.
He also recalled previous interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which included the distribution of food, clothing and educational materials, noting that the chapter intended to scale up such initiatives in the coming year.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding members and distinguished non-members in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.
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