By Ebi Kesiena
The federal government says no fewer than 2,504,095 Nigerians have been affected by the ravaging flood disaster in parts of the country while 332,327 hectares of farmlands and 82,053 houses have been damaged as at Sunday, Oct 16.
The federal government also gave the number of injuries recorded so far to stand at 2,407 even as 603 deaths have so far been documented.
Addressing journalist in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq noted that the FG is deeply saddened by the deverstating situation of the floods despite government warnings.
The Minister blamed the states and communities for not paying adequate attention to early warnings, commiserating with those who have lost their loved ones and means of livelihood.
According to her in response to the 2022 flood situation, she directed the Permanent Secretary to convene an emergency technical stakeholder meeting of all responsive agencies to develop an immediate response to the situation.
She assured that a high-powered delegation has been put in place to engage the state governors to activate response mechanisms as stipulated in the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans according to the resolution of the meeting.
While promising that stakeholders will work in synergy within their respective mandates to prevent deaths or health concerns resulting from the flood, the Minister stressed that a bilateral meeting will take place next month between Nigeria and Cameroon on the periodic opening of Lagdo dam.
“We must initiate a bilateral discussion with authorities in Cameroon next month on the periodic opening the Lagdo dam. The delegation to Cameroon is to 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 the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan; Accordingly, the sectoral approach to flood management at the 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 on community base flood early warning systems and also take greater responsibilities for flood preparedness and response.
