ECOWAS has officially launched its membership in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) at an event held in Abuja.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said its Director-General, Zubaida Umar, used the occasion to reaffirm the agency’s commitment to promoting resilient infrastructure as a key strategy for disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development. She described the milestone as a step toward enhancing regional and global collaboration on infrastructure systems capable of withstanding disasters and climate-related risks.
Umar highlighted that West Africa faces increasing hazards, including floods, droughts, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events. She stressed the need for proactive investment in resilient infrastructure, stronger technical cooperation, and risk-informed planning to mitigate these threats.
At the event, stakeholders outlined the objectives of ECOWAS’s membership in CDRI. Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Abhishek Singh, explained that CDRI is an international initiative focused on promoting cooperation to strengthen infrastructure systems against disaster risks, protecting lives, livelihoods, and economic assets.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Fatou Sow Sarr, noted that membership in the coalition will enhance the region’s collective capacity to anticipate, withstand, and recover from disasters, while supporting sustainable development goals.
The coalition, described as a global partnership of governments, international organisations, and other stakeholders, aims to advance resilient infrastructure worldwide, making ECOWAS’s membership a significant step toward disaster preparedness and climate resilience in West Africa.
