Tinubu Launches $250m Relief Initiative for Flood-Displaced Citizens

President Bola Tinubu has launched a 10-year, $250 million initiative aimed at restoring livelihoods and empowering Nigerians displaced by floods and other climate-related disasters.

The programme, called the Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Empowerment Programme for Displaced Populations (CLEP4DPS), was announced during his opening remarks at a special event on climate-induced mobility, held under Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Rabat Process. The gathering brought together global leaders and development partners to explore the links between climate change, migration, security, and development.

According to a statement on Wednesday by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, explained that the programme will focus on long-term empowerment rather than short-term relief.

The CLEP4DPS will support displaced persons through initiatives in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy entrepreneurship, climate data and digital employment, green value chains, as well as dedicated leadership tracks for women and youth.

“The programme is built on the premise that economic empowerment is a critical form of climate adaptation,” the President said, highlighting a shift from temporary humanitarian responses to people-centred solutions that strengthen resilience and protect human dignity.

He added that the programme complements other government interventions 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. He also noted ongoing support for displaced families through targeted relief, resettlement initiatives, and the Resettlement City Project, which provides planned communities with access to basic services and livelihood support.

Describing climate change as a major driver of human mobility, Tinubu stressed that for Nigeria, climate-induced displacement is a lived reality. He cited the 2022 floods, which affected over 4.4 million people and displaced roughly 2.4 million across more than 30 states, as well as recurrent flooding, coastal erosion, desertification, and environmental degradation in areas like the Lake Chad Basin. These factors, he noted, have undermined livelihoods and forced communities to migrate.

Calling for stronger international collaboration, the President emphasized that climate-induced mobility is a global challenge requiring inclusive partnerships, evidence-based policymaking, and sustained dialogue within frameworks like the Rabat Process. He expressed gratitude to partners including Switzerland, the European Union, and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, hoping the engagement would translate into actionable initiatives linking climate action, migration governance, and sustainable development.