Rising from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday, President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive for the establishment of a Disaster Relief Fund to address the increasing occurrence of climate-related disasters across the country.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, during a media briefing after the meeting. Edun stressed that Nigeria faces a growing risk of extreme weather events, such as the recent catastrophic flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, which claimed lives and devastated infrastructure.

He said, “Given the realities of climate change, disasters like the Maiduguri flooding are likely to become more frequent. It is essential that we create a specialized funding mechanism to meet the challenges posed by these events and provide timely support to affected regions.”

The Maiduguri floods, which left half the city submerged and caused significant loss of life and damage to property, underscored the need for a coordinated response. Edun further explained that the Federal Government is committed to mobilizing resources from both public and private sector stakeholders to ensure the Disaster Relief Fund is adequately financed.

The fund will serve as a crucial financial buffer to support disaster management efforts, rebuilding affected communities, and restoring essential services following future incidents. According to Edun, the Federal Government is prepared to collaborate with international partners and local institutions to ensure that the necessary financial support is available when disasters strike.

As climate change continues to affect Nigeria, the Tinubu administration’s move to establish a Disaster Relief Fund is seen as a proactive step toward mitigating future challenges and ensuring swift recovery for affected regions.