FG approves emergency plan to alleviate flood disaster

The federal government has approved the national emergency flood preparedness and response plans to mitigate and reduce the impact of floods across Nigeria.

Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, permanent secretary of the ministry of humanitarian affairs, spoke in Abuja on Tuesday after the emergency meeting with relevant stakeholders.

Sani-Gwarzo said experts responsible for controlling flood disasters have informed the committee that the scale of the 2022 flooding was similar to that of 2012.

He said the release of water from dams led to an increase in flooding.

“It is on record that over 1.4 million persons were displaced, with about 500 persons being reported dead, 790,254 persons moved out of their locations, while 1,546 persons were injured,” he said.

“Similarly, 44, 099 houses were partially damaged, 45,249 houses totally damaged, 76,168 hectares of farmlands were partially destroyed, while 70, 566 hectares of farmlands were completely destroyed.

“The national emergency flood preparedness and response plans for Nigeria have just been approved by the federal executive council and it contains all the details of the roadmap that needs to be done.

“It includes the immediate, short term and long-term plans and therefore, we have a clear view of what to do and how to go about it, mitigate and reduce the impact of flood in the country.

“We are taking all the necessary actions to bring relief to the people affected by the flood. All the concerned agencies have renewed their commitment to strengthen their efforts in reaching out to the victims and bringing relief to them.”

He said the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) came up with relief materials reaching nothing less than 315,000 displaced persons.