The Benue State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness, reducing vulnerability, and advancing durable solutions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) through the development of a comprehensive Anticipatory Action Framework.
Experts say the anticipatory action framework refers to a proactive humanitarian strategy that aims to reduce the humanitarian impacts of a forecast hazard before it occurs or before its most acute impacts are felt.
Key stakeholders from Benue State, including representatives of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Director General of the Benue State SDGs Office, Sir John Akuse, the Cabinet Office, the Director General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD), Dr. Aondoaseer Leo-Angelo Viashima, and civil society organizations represented by the Chairman of the Benue NGO Network (BENGONET), Mr. Lazarus Mom, converged on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for the Anticipatory Action Framework Development Workshop.
Mrs. Mimi Kadev, Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, told the assembly that the framework aligns with the Fr. Hyacinth Alia administration’s vision of building resilient communities and complements the Benue State Policy on Internally Displaced Persons, the Durable Solutions Strategy and Action Plan, and other initiatives aimed at disaster risk reduction and sustainable development.
“Anticipatory Action enables government and partners to act before disasters occur by using early warning information to trigger timely interventions that protect lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and development gains,” she said, adding that it is a critical pathway to achieving durable solutions and sustainable development in Benue State.
According to Mrs. Kadev, the Fr. Hyacinth Alia administration recognizes the increasing threats posed by floods, climate-related shocks, communal conflicts, and other humanitarian emergencies and is committed to shifting from reactive responses to preventive interventions.
In his contribution, Dr. Viashima described anticipatory action as a strategic bridge between humanitarian response, development planning, and peacebuilding.
He noted that Benue’s recurring floods, displacement, and conflicts underscore the need for systems that enable early action before crises escalate into large-scale humanitarian emergencies.
