By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has rallied boarding state , local governments, and relevant ministries to tackle consequences of from the Cameroonian Lagdo dam.
Minister of the Humanitarian Ministry , Dr. Betta Edu made this known at a press conference held held by the committee members immediately after the maiden edition of the stakeholder’s meeting on the Lagdo dam, in Abuja.
Edu said that the Federal government is rallying efforts through sensitization of State governors for the prevention, mitigation and proffering solutions to flooding and its consequences.
According to the Minister some of the measures taken to avert flooding is for State governors and communities to ensure that drainages are cleaned and obstructions to water ways are quickly removed across the country.
Other measures include sensitisation to begin from the Federal, States, Local Government Areas and Communities.
“Everyone is part of the engagement and sensitisation efforts of the federal government.
“Persons in the affected areas of the flood are enjoined to move to high lands for safety and state governors are to stand up to their responsibilities on the evacuation of persons in such areas to protect lives and properties” she said
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According to Dr Edu, the Federal government will be working with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, States and Local governments to ensure that humanitarian services are provided as well as foods and non-food items, health and livelihood for recovery, reintegration and resettlement for the affected persons.
The Minister of environment, Dr. Ishaq Salako, said Flood Early Warning System domiciled in his Ministry is on and working and issuing hourly warning alerts of floods not only on river Benue but most parts of the country including River Niger.
Salako said that the early warning is aim at warning people about the level of water in their areas and vulnerability to flood.
He stated that a platform has been created where environment correspondents are added and they can receive hourly alerts directly without waiting on Ministry’s officials.
Also the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said the media is a critical stakeholder in advocating the flood.
“The Media is critical in the dissemination of messages on preventing and mitigating floods, noting that President Tinubu’s administration finding solutions of the flooding to reduce the suffering of people, loss of lives and properties.
Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, called on all Nigerians to support government to ensure that everybody on the danger zone vacates the areas and states to ensure that such people are evacuated immediately to preserve lives and properties.
Daybreak reports that other members of the committee include Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and Social Welfare, Interior, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, NEMA, NIMET, NIHSA, Fire Service, among others.
