Yesterday, President Bola Tinubu took decisive steps to preemptively address the potential threat of a flood disaster in the country. This is part of the government’s broader efforts to proactively tackle any looming flood crisis nationwide.
In response, the president has designated Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as the chairman of a committee tasked with formulating a comprehensive action plan.
This committee will consolidate and align various reports on flood, including the recent National Economic Council (NEC) findings and the 2022 National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.
Senator Akon Eyakenyi, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, will serve as the vice chairman of this committee. The committee aims to present its recommendations within seven days.
During an urgent meeting convened by Vice-President Senator Kashim Shettima, at the behest of the president, at the State House yesterday evening, Tinubu stressed the importance of an action plan derived from these reports.
He emphasized that being proactive is far more effective than reacting in a crisis situation.
Based on the submissions by the DG of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, the situation is not that terrible but to be forewarned is to be forearmed. The submissions by the other relevant stakeholders are equally poignant and we can’t afford to take chances.
“Though the situation is not as bad as we might think, we need to set up a committee so that the report of the Presidential Committee and the 2022 Federal Executive Council – approved broad preparedness plan should be harmonised and implemented immediately,” the vice-president stated this as the president’s position.
Shettima emphasized the need for a practical roadmap to effectively tackle the flood crisis in Nigeria. He specified that the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the federal government would collectively shoulder the responsibilities in this endeavor.
“I deliberately invited the NEDC and NDDC so that with whatever resources that NEMA has, they have to be released to the states so that they can start making preparations for any eventuality.
“Based on the presidential directive, I will meet with the Chief Executives of the NEDC and NDDC for states that are under their coverage. There should be interventions from them. For NEDC, they can take care of Taraba, Bauchi and Adamawa. For NDDC, they can take care of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Cross River.
“For states like Ebonyi, Kogi and Benue, we will mobilise from our savings and deploy same to assist them. We have to share responsibilities and hence the immediate need for the roadmap to be implemented.”
The heads of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), National Water Resources Institute, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) delivered presentations. Governors from Bauchi, Kogi, Ebonyi, and Cross River States provided their feedback. Deputies represented the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa States.
The committee also included the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of State for Environment, Kunle Salako; Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo; as well as the heads of NEMA, NIWA, and NiHSA, among others.
Rukaiya El-Rufai, the Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change, will serve as the committee’s secretary.
