FG sets up task force for proactive flood response

The federal government has inaugurated the anticipatory action task force (AATF) to enhance proactive response to flood disasters in Nigeria.

Speaking during a meeting with task force members in Abuja on Tuesday, Vice-President Kashim Shettima said the AATF would help Nigeria shift from its usual reactive disaster relief approach to a more proactive one.

The vice-president noted that the initiative aligns with global policies, including the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement.

“We cannot afford to wait for disaster to strike before taking action. The human and economic toll of floods in Nigeria has become unbearable,” Shettima said.

“We must act now to protect lives and livelihoods by leveraging science, technology, and collaboration.”

BACKGROUND

On September 10, 2024, Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, was hit by severe flooding after the Alau Dam, which had reached full capacity the previous week, collapsed.

The flood reportedly killed 30 people and left 400,000 displaced, as wild animals were flooded out into the streets from their habitats at the state zoo.

On September 13, 2024, Babagana Zulum, the governor of Borno, said the flood affected more than two million residents in Maiduguri, with about 200 inmates missing from the state prison after the incident.

The disaster was part of a larger pattern of seasonal floods that have increasingly affected different parts of Nigeria in recent years.

In 2022, the country suffered wrecking floods which killed over 300 persons and displaced 172,000 people across 16 states.

These recurrent floodings highlight the increasing vulnerability to natural disasters and the urgent need for comprehensive flood preparedness and management strategies.