Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engineer Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev has announced the plans of federal government to address issues of flood in the country.
In a statement signed by the Minister’s media aide, Terhemen Oraduen, he made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja when he received a report of the Presidential Committee on Development of Comprehensive Plan of Action for Preventing Flood Disasters in Nigeria in his office.
According to the statement, the Federal Government is to issue a white paper on implementation of Presidential Committee report on preventing perennial flood disasters in the country.
Professor Utsev, who lamented the huge loses Nigeria has continue to incur on crops, properties and general economy almost on a yearly basis as a result of devastating impact of flooding said it was with a view to put to address this that the federal government had constituted the Committee with vast knowledge on flood mitigation that would come out with lasting solution to the problem.
He acknowledged the thorough and meticulous work done by the Committee which has given the federal government a direction on how best to overcome perennial flooding in the country said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was determined to ensuring food security and improve the living condition of citizens.
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The Minister restated his call on Nigerians to desist from indiscriminate disposal of wastes materials on drainage channels, building on water ways and other activities that were causing harm to environment.
Earlier while presenting the report, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Development of Comprehensive Plan of Action for Preventing Flood Disasters in Nigeria Professor E.A Adanu said the Committee has made ten key recommendations which include establishment of a National Flood Management Council to be headed by the Vice President of Nigeria and flood management fund .
Other recommendations according to Professor Adanu include adoption of a National Flood Categorization Scale for effective monitoring, coordination and management of flood disasters in the country as well as Develop flood Risk Insurance Policy and Scheme to minimize risks associated with flood impacts.
