Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the immediate activation of the Fusion and Trigger Room within the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to strengthen early warning, coordination and response to flooding across Nigeria.

Speaking at a meeting of the Anticipatory Action Task Force (AATF) in Abuja on Thursday, Shettima said the Tinubu administration is shifting from reactive disaster response to proactive preparedness, stressing that government must act before emergencies escalate.

He also directed the AATF, NEMA and relevant agencies to review implementation budgets, prioritise projects and ensure the swift release of approved funds to prevent administrative delays.

The Vice President urged state governments to play active roles in flood preparedness, noting that effective disaster management requires collaboration at all levels.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, described the approval of ₦83.2 billion for anticipatory flood interventions as a timely step, while UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Fall commended the Federal Government for demonstrating leadership in disaster preparedness.

NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar said the agency had already issued early warning alerts and was prioritising vulnerable communities to reduce loss of lives and livelihoods.