Nigeria unveils national flood insurance policy to tackle climate disasters

The Federal Government has introduced a National Flood Insurance Policy (NFIP) as part of efforts to address the rising threat of flood-related disasters across Nigeria.

The new initiative was announced on Thursday during a technical committee meeting in Abuja focused on the policy’s development and implementation framework.

Mahmud Kambari, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Environment, said the NFIP would help reduce the financial burden on federal and state governments, which currently spend significant resources on emergency relief and post-disaster reconstruction.

He was represented at the event by Kunle Awojemila, deputy director in the Department of Flood Erosion Control and Coastal Management.

“The time has come to shift from reactive responses to proactive and sustainable flood risk management,” Kambari said.

“The establishment of a National Flood Insurance Programme, as outlined in Section Four of the National Erosion and Flood Control Policy, is central to this strategy.”

He added that the policy would serve as a financial safety net for individuals, businesses, and communities, allowing for quicker recovery from flood-induced losses and helping build long-term resilience.

The technical committee is expected to establish clear timelines, assign responsibilities, and put monitoring systems in place to ensure the policy’s successful rollout.

Also speaking at the event, Rukayat El Rufai, special adviser to the president on National Economic Council and Climate Change, stressed the importance of making flood insurance a priority.

Represented by Inna Audu, special assistant to the president on Humanitarian Affairs, she noted that many agrarian communities along the River Benue, River Niger, and their tributaries suffer huge losses due to seasonal flooding.

“When you talk about insurance, it is not something to be done after disaster strikes. It is a preparedness mechanism, an anticipated action,” she said.

“Contributions must be made in advance to create a fund for emergencies.”

El Rufai lamented the economic and human toll of recurrent floods, citing trillions of naira in losses to farms, homes, and livelihoods.

She also called for standalone flood insurance packages, rather than bundling coverage under general insurance, arguing that a focused policy would better protect vulnerable Nigerians and support effective disaster recovery.