Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, a Fellow of Disaster Risk Leadership, has urged the federal, state, and local governments to increase public investment in disaster prevention across Nigeria.
Wenegieme, who is also a Fellow of the Risk Managers Society of Nigeria, made the call in a statement on Monday in Abuja to commemorate the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).
She also appealed to all tiers of government to ensure the effective implementation of policies that promote resilience and public safety.
According to the immediate past Director-General of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, increased investment in disaster prevention would help build a safer and more sustainable future for Nigerians.
She described this year’s theme, “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” as apt, stressing the need to prioritize Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and preventive efforts across all sectors, including private organizations and communities.
Wenegieme called for a paradigm shift from reactive responses to proactive actions to achieve meaningful results.
“In recent years, disasters have become more frequent, costly, and devastating — manifesting through floods, building collapses, epidemics, fire outbreaks, road crashes, erosion, and other emergencies,” she said.
“While direct disaster costs have grown to approximately $202 billion annually, the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 estimates that the true cost is nearly 11 times higher, at about $2.3 trillion.
“Despite these figures, investment in disaster risk reduction remains far too low in both national budgets and international assistance.”
She emphasized that prevention, preparedness, planning, resilience, and increased investment were crucial to saving lives and protecting property.
Wenegieme further called for greater public awareness and sensitization on DRR, urging governments and stakeholders to prioritize resilience in national and community development planning.
“There is also a need to support communities affected by disasters with shock-responsive interventions to help them rebuild their lives,” she added.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was established in 1989 following a call by the United Nations General Assembly to promote a global culture of risk awareness and disaster prevention.
October 13 of every year is set aside to celebrate the efforts of people and communities worldwide in reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about managing risks effectively.
