Lagdo Dam: "Prevent The Loss of Lives and Properties...... President Tinubu Directs Ministers
Illustrative photograph of Lagdo Dam and its effect on communities in Nigeria |
...... As Humanitarian Minister Leads FG's Committee To Proffer Solution To Flooding.
"The Federal government is interested in the prevention, mitigation and proffering solutions to flooding and its consequences." Dr Betta Edu.
"Everyone is part of the engagement and sensitisation efforts of the federal government."
"The Media is an important partner in the struggle and encouraged them to continue the good work they are doing." Water Resources & Sanitation Minister.
With the opening of the Lagdo Dam and the adverse effects, the Federal government has constituted a high level committee led by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu to proffer solutions to flooding and its consequences in Nigeria.
Dr Betta Edu disclosed this at a press conference held by the committee members immediately after the maiden edition of the stakeholder's meeting on the Lagdo dam, in Abuja.
Dr Edu said the meeting was at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following her presentation at the Maiden Federal Executive meeting.
To ensure proper coordination, the Minister said her Ministry, with other Ministries will be working with the Office of the Vice President and the Nigeria Governors Forum to ensure proper mitigation of the likely impact of the floods.
She said the Federal government is interested in 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.
Also, 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.
This he said was aimed at warning people and to let them know 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.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, also added that the media is a critical stakeholder in advocating the flood.
According to him, "The Media is an important partner in the struggle and encouraged them to continue the good work they are doing."
He said it is the media that disseminates the message of preventing and mitigating floods. Adding that, as a government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are finding solutions to the flooding to reduce the suffering of people, loss of lives and properties.
The Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, who added his voice, called on all Nigerians to support government to ensure that everybody on the danger zone has vacated the areas and states to ensure that such people are evacuated immediately to preserve lives and properties.
In a press statement made available to the media by Rhoda Ishaku Iliya, Deputy Director Information, FMHAPA, it stated 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.
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