By Ere-ebi Agedah Imisi
Fed says no less than 2,504,095 Nigerians have been affected by the devastating floods in parts of the country while 332, 095 hectares of agricultural land and 095,053 houses were damaged as of Sunday October .
The federal government has also indicated that the number of injuries recorded so far amounts to 2, 407 even if 504 deaths have so far
Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, noted that the FG is deeply saddened by the devastating flooding situation despite government warnings.
The Minister faulted states and communities for not paying sufficient attention to early warnings, sympathizing with those who have lost their loved ones and livelihoods.
According to her, in response to the 2022 flooding situation, she instructed the Permanent Secretary to convene an emergency meeting technical stakeholders from all responsive agencies to develop an immediate response to the situation.
She assured that a high-level delegation has been put in place instead of engaging the State Governors to activate the response mechanisms as stipulated in the national preparedness and response plans. flood response in accordance with the resolution of the meeting.
While pledging that stakeholders will work in synergy within their respective mandates to prevent deaths or health problems resulting of the flood, the Minister pointed out that a bilateral meeting will take place next month between Nigeria and Cameroon on the periodic opening of the Lagdo dam.
“We must initiate a discussion with the Cameroonian authorities next month on the periodic opening of the Lagdo dam. The delegation to Cameroon will be led by the Permanent Secretary and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be requested to facilitate it.
“For a coordinated flood response protocol, the meeting agreed to implement Plan emergency preparedness and response; Accordingly, the sector-wide approach to flood management at national and sub-national levels must be absolutely implemented,” she said.
In line with the resolution of the Technical Stakeholders Meeting, the Minister called on State Governments to invest in flood management and lead community flood early warning systems and also assume greater responsibilities for flood preparedness and response.
