Mr Hammed Aboderin, Assistant Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has advocated for proactive disaster management through student-led community service initiatives.
Aboderin made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting on the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign (NPRC) on Flood Disaster and Related Hazards, held in Abuja on Thursday.
Correspondent reports that the meeting was organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to promote continuous public awareness and prevent recurring flood disasters in Nigeria.
Aboderin emphasised NSCDC’s focus on prevention over reaction, underscoring its strong collaboration with NEMA. He proposed integrating environmental sanitation and community development activities into academic requirements for tertiary students.
With Nigeria’s higher institutions housing over five million students, he suggested that one hour per semester dedicated to clearing drainage systems could generate nearly 10 million hours of community service quarterly.
He explained that such a measure would significantly mitigate flood risks and related disasters.
Aboderin further recommended incentive-based schemes, referencing countries like the Philippines, where citizens receive rice in exchange for collecting plastic waste, to boost public participation.
He called for disaster management training from an early age and urged that community service be institutionalised within academic and youth group programmes.
According to him, this would not only enhance disaster resilience but also transform Nigeria’s population into a vital force for national development and environmental sustainability.
Mr Oyegade Adeleke, Deputy General Manager of Climate Services at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), praised the reliability and timeliness of early warning systems in disaster response.
Adeleke noted that NiMet had issued seasonal forecasts as early as January and February, ensuring all stakeholders were informed.
“It is not enough to listen to the forecast in January or February alone.
“NEMA must follow us for the January forecast, for the February forecast, for the March forecast, and so on,” he said.
He stressed that forecasts are frequently updated, sometimes bi-weekly, to provide increasingly accurate and actionable data as the season unfolds.
“If we have not prepared enough in January, February, or March, there is always another cycle coming, and new forecasts for April, May and beyond,” he added.
Adeleke urged disaster response agencies to actively engage with NiMet’s continuous forecasts for effective preparedness and response.
Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting at NEMA, Mr Onimode Abdullahi, highlighted the importance of collective effort in confronting the rising threat of floods across the country.
“Our engagements today have been enlightening, and we have collectively identified key areas of focus to enhance Nigeria’s flood preparedness and response capabilities,” he said.
He outlined key strategies discussed, including improving the timeliness and accuracy of flood warnings to at-risk communities, and supporting grassroots initiatives aimed at reducing vulnerability and strengthening national resilience.
Abdullahi also called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, and communities to ensure unified and effective flood response efforts.
“Let us leave this meeting with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to building a more resilient Nigeria.
“Together, we can make a difference and save lives, livelihoods, and communities from the devastating effects of flood disasters,” he said.
Participants were encouraged to remain committed to implementing agreed strategies and ensuring that no vulnerable community is neglected.
(NAN)