Akwa Ibom youths push for disaster prevention instead of just response

The recent floods have shown big gaps in how ready we are for disasters. A group of young people in Akwa Ibom is asking the state government to stop just reacting to floods and focus on preventing them. This call comes after many people expressed worries about the lack of flood-control measures, even with early warnings and billions of naira set aside in the state budget.

As communities in Akwa Ibom State try to recover from floods that ruined homes, businesses, and farms, this youth-led group wants the government to change its mostly reactive strategy. They are advocating for an immediate move to a smart disaster risk management plan that can help reduce future emergencies.

Their demand is growing louder as people question how ready the state is for disasters. This is especially true since the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) gave early flood warnings, and a lot of money was budgeted for flood control.

In a statement released on Friday, the Chairperson, Margaret Jameson, and Secretary, Enobong Ekanem, of the Akwa Ibom State Youth-Led Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response Committee said that the recent floods show how limited it is to depend mainly on emergency responses after disasters strike.

"The recurring nature of flooding in Akwa Ibom State demonstrates that disasters can no longer be managed solely through emergency response after they occur," the committee said. "There is an urgent need to shift from a reactive approach to a proactive, risk-informed, and resilience-focused disaster management system."

The committee highlighted that climate change, fast urban growth, poor drainage systems, careless waste disposal, and building in flood-prone areas are making communities more vulnerable. They are urging Governor Umo Eno’s administration to quickly put into action the Akwa Ibom State Disaster Risk Management Framework, which was created with input from young professionals and disaster risk advocates.

This framework was submitted to the Deputy Governor, Akon Eyakenyi, in August 2025. It lays out a plan for improving how disasters are managed, enhancing early warning systems, and including climate change adaptation in development plans.