Unmanaged disasters worsen insecurity, fuel vulnerabilities, says Ribadu

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), says the federal and state agencies must shift from a reactive disaster response to proactive and anticipatory approaches.

The NSA spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at the opening of a “high-level” workshop on “Coordinated risk monitoring and communication for floods and other disasters,” held at the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), under the office of the national security adviser (ONSA).

Ribadu said the revision of approaches to natural disaster is necessary to enhance national security.

He warned that poorly managed disasters could trigger cascading security risks, including mass displacement, destruction of critical infrastructure, and deepening of societal fragilities.

“Unmanaged disasters exacerbate insecurity and fuel vulnerabilities. If we fail to prepare, we risk overwhelming our response systems when crises occur,” Ribadu noted.

The NSA applauded the participation of the Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other state dignitaries at the workshop, stating that their presence reaffirmed the government’s whole-of-society approach to disaster risk reduction.

Key stakeholders from across the security, emergency management, and environmental sectors attended the workshop, and discussions focused on building resilience through coordinated data sharing, risk monitoring, and effective public communication strategies.

The event was organised as part of broader national efforts to mainstream disaster preparedness into security planning and national development priorities.