We are Committed in Putting Measures to Manage Flooding in the Country- Water Minister
The Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu has said that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Water Resources and its agencies is putting in place measures to manage high water flows from our rivers and to contain flooding within the country.
The Minister stated this on Thursday 10th May, 2018 during the presentation of the 2018 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agencies in Abuja.
He said that part of the measures to manage flooding include construction of Kashimbilla dam designed to contain eventual break of Lake Nyos, reservoirs, artificial lakes and buffers, barriers, irrigation facilities and other structural controls.
He further said that the government has mapped out plans to improve and sustain urban drainage systems in most of our cities. Other measures include flood mapping, flood vulnerability studies and flood sensitization and awareness campaigns.
According to him, the theme of this year’s flood Outlook presentation, “towards a more robust flood prediction in Nigeria”, is timely and encompassing as we are not in a position to arrest the consequences of hydrological hazards of flooding. “We can however, manage these extreme events in such a manner that their deleterious effects are mitigated and become less devastating”, he said.
Going by regional collaboration, the minister said that the ministry is also working with upstream countries in West Africa for the management of Transboundary Rivers (Niger and Benue). Nigeria is also working with the Niger Basin Authority, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Nigeria-Cameroon joint Commission and the Nigeria-Benin Joint Commission to facilitate the pursuance of shared visions and effective management of water resources.
Adamu admonished Nigerians especially those living in flood prone areas to take seriously to the warnings and information that are contained in the flood alert as the 2018 Annual Flood Outlook has given impetus to the government’s Change Agenda to better the lives of Nigerians.
Delivering his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Musa Ibrahim represented by the Director of General Services, Mr. Peter Omokhudu, commended the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency for the 2018 Annual Flood Outlook. He said that it is another step towards reawakening the consciousness of Nigerians on what to expect with regards to the extent and severity of flood in 2018.
He called on Nigerians to adhere strictly to regulations on environment, physical planning and development towards averting and mitigating flood tragedy.
