The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called for stronger coordination and preparedness among relevant institutions to improve the speed and effectiveness of flood disaster response in Nigeria.
The National Project Management and Coordination Specialist for Nigeria under the UNDP Sahel Resilience Project, Dr Sunday Andorbe Amama, made the call during a goodwill message at a Full-Scale Simulation Exercise on Flood Disaster Response in Benue State.
Representing the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mrs Elsie Attafuah, Amama said the exercise provided an opportunity to test emergency procedures, strengthen institutional coordination and improve preparedness for flood emergencies.
He said the initiative, supported by the Government of Sweden through the UNDP Sahel Resilience Project, was being implemented in partnership with the Federal Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Benue State Government and the World Bank across selected states.
Amama commended Benue for hosting the national exercise, saying it demonstrated the commitment of participating institutions to protecting lives, livelihoods and communities from the impact of disasters.
He stressed the need to translate lessons from the simulation into practical measures for actual emergencies, noting that effective preparedness and coordinated action could save lives.
“Every lesson learned today will contribute to faster coordination, improved decision-making and more effective flood disaster response tomorrow,” he said.
Amama also commended NEMA for its leadership and technical expertise in disaster preparedness, emergency response, recovery and resilience-building across the country.
He reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting Federal and State Governments through technical assistance, policy advice, capacity development, innovation, strategic partnerships and catalytic financing.
The UNDP official urged participants to use the exercise to exchange knowledge, test response mechanisms and identify areas requiring improvement.
He expressed confidence that the exercise would strengthen the ability of stakeholders to anticipate risks, respond promptly to emergencies and support faster recovery while building more resilient communities in Benue State and Nigeria.
