Katsina Moves From Crisis Response to Prevention as New Disaster Framework Targets Floods, Drought, Food Insecurity

 The Katsina State Government has joined forces with Plan International Nigeria to develop a comprehensive Anticipatory Action Framework aimed at reducing disaster risks, protecting vulnerable communities and strengthening food security across the state.

The initiative was unveiled during a stakeholders’ workshop held in Katsina, where government officials, humanitarian organisations, technical agencies and community representatives gathered to chart a proactive approach to managing climate-related and humanitarian challenges.

Speaking at the event, the State Coordinator of Plan International Nigeria, Mr. Emanuel Nuhu, said the framework would help the state transition from a reactive emergency-response model to a system that takes preventive action before hazards escalate into full-scale humanitarian crises.

According to him, Katsina remains vulnerable to a range of interconnected threats, including flooding, drought, extreme heat, windstorms, disease outbreaks, crop infestations and other climate-induced shocks that continue to affect livelihoods and essential services.

He noted that such disasters often have devastating consequences for food production, nutrition, healthcare delivery, water supply, education and critical infrastructure, with children, women, girls and persons living with disabilities bearing the greatest burden.

Nuhu explained that the proposed framework would establish a state-owned mechanism for tracking risks, activating early interventions, coordinating responses and mobilising resources before emergencies occur.

“The goal is to move beyond simply predicting disasters to taking practical steps that reduce their impact while there is still time to act,” he said.

He added that the framework would combine scientific forecasts, risk assessments and community knowledge to create clear warning triggers, predefined response actions and assigned responsibilities for all relevant stakeholders.

Participants at the workshop were tasked with identifying major threats facing the state, mapping high-risk communities and vulnerable populations, and developing evidence-based, conflict-sensitive response measures tailored to specific hazards.

According to Nuhu, the framework is expected to serve as a practical decision-making tool that clearly outlines when action should be triggered, who should take responsibility, what interventions should be implemented and how such interventions should be funded, monitored and evaluated.

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He said the process would draw extensively from historical disaster records, seasonal weather forecasts, early warning systems, government assessments, local experiences and existing emergency preparedness plans.

At the end of the workshop, stakeholders are expected to produce a draft Anticipatory Action Framework alongside a roadmap for its technical review, validation, approval and eventual implementation across the state.

Reaffirming the organisation’s commitment, Nuhu said Plan International Nigeria would continue collaborating with government institutions and development partners to strengthen systems that protect children and young people, particularly girls, from the growing impacts of climate change and humanitarian emergencies.

“Taking action before disasters strike can significantly reduce damage, improve preparedness and save lives while ensuring that emergency response mechanisms remain effective when needed,” he said.

Also speaking, a Director in the Katsina State Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Abubakar Kankia, said the state government was committed to partnering with non-governmental organisations and development agencies to tackle pressing challenges such as flooding, drought, disease outbreaks, banditry and kidnapping.

Similarly, Dr. Rabi Yusuf of the Katsina State Ministry of Health described the initiative as a timely intervention, revealing that relevant ministries and agencies were already aligning efforts to support its implementation, with funding provisions incorporated into the state budget.

The workshop attracted a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives of government ministries, emergency management agencies, humanitarian and development organisations, civil society groups, community leaders and technical institutions.

Also in attendance were officials of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), traditional and religious leaders, women and youth groups, organisations representing persons with disabilities, academics and members of the media.

The collaboration signals a growing recognition that effective disaster management is no longer just about responding to emergencies, but about anticipating risks and acting early to protect lives, livelihoods and the future of vulnerable communities.