Emmanuel OchayiAs part of measures to address the looming flood crisis in Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set up a committee to develop a comprehensive action plan aimed at mitigating the potential impact of this disaster.
At an emergency meeting convened by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of the President, the importance of being proactive rather than reactive in the face of possible flooding was emphasised.
He stated that based on information from the Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and other stakeholders, the situation currently is not so bad, but necessitates preparedness.
The President designated Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as chairman of the committee, and tasked them with harmonizing various reports on flooding, including the National Economic Council (NEC) report and the 2022 National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. Serving as the committee’s vice chairman will be the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi.
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The committee has been given a seven-day deadline to present its recommendations. The roadmap produced by this committee is expected to tackle the looming flood crisis in Nigeria. Responsibilities will be shared among the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Federal Government.
Vice President Shettima noted that resources from these commissions, combined with support from the Federal Government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), would be allocated to states to begin preparations for any potential flooding. The objective is to distribute responsibilities effectively and to promptly implement the action plan.
The committee, chaired by Governor Bello, comprises key figures from various agencies, including the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), National Water Resources Institute, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). Governors from Bauchi, Kogi, Ebonyi, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Nasarawa States, as well as several government ministers, are part of this initiative.
Rukaiya El-Rufai, the Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, has been appointed as the committee’s secretary.
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