FG Asks States to Activate Measures against Flooding
Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
The federal government yesterday challenged all vulnerable states of the federation to activate measures to mitigate the effects of flooding ahead of the impending rainy reason.
The apex government also advised the flood-prone states to embark on aggressive comprehensive public awareness campaigns, ensuring unobstructed drainage systems and strategic relocation of residents residing along riverbanks to safer ground
These were contained in a statement the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev and the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Bello Goronyo jointly released yesterday.
In the joint statement, the ministers asked all tiers of government to escalate preparedness measures and swiftly implement actions aimed at mitigating the potential impacts of flooding during the impending rainy season.
The statement also expressed the resolve of the federal government “to foster collaboration, innovation, and positive transformative changes within the ministry.”
It highlighted concerns about the potential for flooding in Nigeria from July to October, revealing significant hydrological findings, accentuating a conspicuous increase in the flow volume along the River Benue system.
Despite the increased flow, the statement reassured the public that the flow situation at the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers in Lokoja, a flood-prone area, remains reassuring within normal parameters.
It said the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency had noted an increase in the volume of flow along the River Benue system, registering a flow level of 8.97 meters last Friday.
The statement said it was compared to “a flow level of 8.80 meters on the same date in 2022. The flow level on the River Niger system remains stable, with the level of the River Niger at Niamey, Niger Republic, standing at a normal level of 4.30 meters.
“Reports from inland dams including Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro also indicate a consistent flow regime. The flow level at the monitoring station downstream of the confluence records 7.80 meters on Friday, compared to 8.24 meters on the same date in 2022.”
In her remark, Permanent Secretary, Water Resources and Sanitation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack highlighted the federal government’s dedication to ensuring sustainable access to clean water and improved sanitation for all Nigerians.
The permanent secretary emphasised the coordinated efforts of various entities within the Ministry’s structure, all working in tandem to achieve this crucial goal.
