FG releases plans for flood prevention

The National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Center in Nigeria has released its plans to take strategic measures to mitigate flooding in Nigeria.

The Senior Technical Adviser on Disaster Risk Management, Office of the Vice President, and Director General of the Early Response Center, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said this at a press briefing in Abuja for the National Seasonal Prediction and Flood Outlook for 2019.

In respect to the technical committee on flooding inaugurated on April 19, 2019, the early response center has noted that as part of its deliberations, it has considered the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NIMET) seasonal rainfall prediction, and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s (NIHSA) annual flood outlook for 2019.

The report also detailed the states affected, classifying them into three categories in relation to the flooding: severely impacted, mildly impacted, and moderately impacted.

According to the release, fourteen states have been classified as severely impacted, including Niger, Kebbi, Kogi, Benue, Adamawa, Delta, Lagos, and Abuja FCT.

The Director General affirmed that workshops on flood prevention, mitigation, and preparedness will be held in three stages according to the severity classification of the flood impact and identified stakeholders.

“We will carry out the workshop to sensitize the people in these affected areas and reduce the morbidity and mortality usually associated with flood disaster.

“All key stakeholders, from the state to the local and federal level are in the committee,” he said.

“We will carry out the workshop to sensitize the people in these affected areas and reduce the morbidity and mortality usually associated with flood disaster.

“We have established transparency, effective communication between the stakeholders. We are putting a lot of things in place from the grassroots.

“We will carry out the workshop to sensitize the people in these affected areas and reduce the morbidity and mortality usually associated with flood disaster.

“The committee has identified the challenges that flooding causes the country annually and has decided that it will apply all effective strategies to curb it from this year onwards.”