PRESIDENT TINUBU ROLLS OUT $250M SCHEME FOR FLOOD-AFFECTED NIGERIANS
Read Time:2 Minute, 37 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
President Bola Tinubu has launched the Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Empowerment Programme for Displaced Populations, a 10-year initiative valued at $250 million aimed at restoring livelihoods and empowering Nigerians displaced by climate-related disasters.
The President announced the programme in his opening address at a high-level event on climate-induced mobility held under Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Rabat Process. The forum brought together global leaders and development partners to examine the intersection of climate change, migration, security and development.
In a statement issued Wednesday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, Tinubu—represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume—said the programme will focus on empowering displaced persons through climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy entrepreneurship, climate data and digital jobs, green value chains, and leadership development for women and youth.
He explained that the initiative reflects a shift by the Federal Government from short-term emergency responses to long-term, people-centred solutions that build resilience and uphold human dignity.
According to the statement, the programme is anchored on the belief that economic empowerment is a vital form of climate adaptation. Tinubu noted that the government has continued to support flood-affected families through targeted relief, resettlement and recovery efforts, including cash and material assistance.
Displaced families, he said, are being resettled into planned communities such as the Resettlement City Project, where they have access to basic services and livelihood support under the supervision of relevant humanitarian and emergency agencies.
The President added that the new programme complements other initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Global Flood Disaster Management Project, which focuses on early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, disaster coordination and community engagement nationwide.
Tinubu described climate change as a major driver of human mobility worldwide, stressing that climate-induced displacement is a present reality for Nigeria. He recalled the 2022 floods, which affected more than 4.4 million people and displaced about 2.4 million across over 30 states, as well as recurring floods that continue to pressure host communities and infrastructure.
He also pointed to environmental challenges such as degradation in the Lake Chad Basin, coastal erosion along Nigeria’s shoreline, and desertification in other regions, all of which have eroded livelihoods and forced communities to migrate.
Calling for stronger international cooperation, Tinubu said climate-induced mobility is a transnational challenge that no country can address alone. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive partnerships, evidence-based policymaking and sustained engagement within the Rabat Process.
The President expressed appreciation to Switzerland, the European Union, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and other partners for their support, expressing optimism that the dialogue would lead to concrete collaboration linking climate action, migration governance and sustainable development.
Nigeria has faced growing climate-related disasters in recent years, including flooding, desertification and coastal erosion, displacing millions and disrupting livelihoods. In response, the Federal Government continues to advance climate adaptation and disaster preparedness initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, while strengthening international cooperation through platforms such as the Rabat Process.
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