H.E. Dr. Hajo Sani, OON, yesterday, 28th January, 2026, joined key partners at the United Nations House in Abuja for the signing of the Arrangement Letter between UNESCO and the Government of Japan on the project titled “Strengthening Flood Resilience in Nigeria to Foster Long-Term Societal Stability, Focus on Niger State.”
The Arrangement Letter was signed by H.E. Ambassador SUZUKI Hideo, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, and Mr. Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga, Head of the UNESCO Office in Nigeria and UNESCO Representative a.i. The ceremony marked an important step in strengthening international cooperation to address the growing risks of climate-induced flooding in Nigeria.
The engagement reflects Nigeria’s sustained commitment to forward-looking disaster risk reduction and climate resilience, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating 2025 floods in Niger State, which claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands of residents, and destroyed farmlands in communities including Mokwa.
The project represents a shift from reactive emergency response to long-term disaster preparedness, emphasizing prevention, community empowerment, and evidence-based planning. Through the initiative, local capacities will be strengthened while national institutions are supported to integrate climate-risk data into development and infrastructure decisions.
Key components of the project include:
- Training youth and community volunteers in early warning systems and rainfall monitoring
- Supporting evidence-based planning through the use of climate-risk data
- Implementing nature-based solutions, including riverbank restoration, to sustainably mitigate flood impacts
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Ecological Project Office and the Nigerian Commission for UNESCO, with Japan contributing its global expertise in disaster risk reduction to support Nigeria’s resilience agenda.
