Nigeria has recently taken a significant step toward strengthening its climate resilience with the signing of a new cooperation agreement aimed at reducing flood risks, particularly in flood-prone Niger State.
H.E. Dr. Hajo Sani, OON, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO, joined international partners at the United Nations House in Abuja for the signing of an Arrangement Letter between UNESCO and the Government of Japan for the project titled “Strengthening Flood Resilience in Nigeria to Foster Long-Term Societal Stability, Focus on Niger State.”
The agreement was formally signed by H.E. Ambassador Suzuki Hideo, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, and Mr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga, Head of the UNESCO Office in Nigeria and UNESCO Representative a.i. The ceremony marked a key milestone in international collaboration to address the escalating risks posed by climate-induced flooding across the country.
The initiative comes in the wake of the devastating 2025 floods in Niger State, which resulted in significant loss of life, widespread displacement, and extensive destruction of farmlands, particularly in communities such as Mokwa. Against this backdrop, the project reflects Nigeria’s growing emphasis on proactive disaster risk reduction and long-term climate adaptation.
Rather than focusing solely on emergency response, the project prioritises prevention, preparedness, and community empowerment. It aims to strengthen local capacities while supporting national institutions to integrate climate-risk data into development planning and infrastructure decision-making.
Key components of the initiative include training youth and community volunteers in early warning systems and rainfall monitoring, promoting evidence-based planning through improved use of climate-risk data, and implementing nature-based solutions such as riverbank restoration to reduce flood impacts in a sustainable manner.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ecological Project Office and the Nigerian Commission for UNESCO, with Japan contributing its global expertise in disaster risk reduction to support Nigeria’s broader resilience and sustainability agenda.
