By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi
Following the opening of the Lagdo dam, the Federal government has constituted a high-level committee led by the Minister of Humanitarian affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu to proffer solutions to flooding and its consequences in Nigeria.
Speaking after the maiden edition of the stakeholder’s meeting on the Lagdo dam, in Abuja, the minister noted that affected states have been advised to commence evacuation and opening up of drainage channels.
According to Edu, the Federal government is interested in the prevention, mitigation and proffering solutions to flooding and its consequences.
She explained that some of the measures taken to avert flooding is for State governors and communities to ensure that drainages are cleaned and obstructions to water ways are quickly removed across the country. Other measures include sensitisation to begin from the Federal, States, Local Government Areas and Communities.
“Everyone is part of the engagement and sensitisation efforts of the federal government.
“Persons in the affected areas of the flood are enjoined to move to high lands for safety and state governors are to stand up to their responsibilities on the evacuation of persons in such areas to protect lives and properties” she said
According to Dr Edu, the Federal government will be working with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, States and Local governments to ensure that humanitarian services are provided as well as foods and non-food items, health and livelihood for recovery, reintegration and resettlement for the affected persons.
The Minister of environment, Dr. Ishaq Salako, said Flood Early Warning System domiciled in his Ministry is on and working and issuing hourly warning alerts of floods not only on river Benue but most parts of the country including River Niger. This he said was aim at warning people and to let them know the level of water in their areas and vulnerability to flood.
He stated that a platform has been created where environment correspondents are added and they can receive hourly alerts directly without waiting on Ministry’s officials.
Also, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said the media is a critical stakeholder in advocating the flood.
“The Media is an important partner in the struggle and encouraged them to continue the good work they are doing. He said it is the media that disseminate the message of preventing and mitigating floods. He said that as a government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are finding solutions of the flooding to reduce the suffering of people, loss of lives and properties.
On his part, the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, called on all Nigerians to support government to ensure that everybody on the danger zone has vacated the areas and states to ensure that such people are evacuated immediately to preserve lives and properties.
Other members of the committee include Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and Social Welfare, Interior, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, NEMA, NIMET, NIHSA, Fire Service, among others.
