FLOOD MITIGATION: FG Reiterate Commitment At Inaugural Meeting On Dam Evaluation

Wale Edun, Other Members of the Committee pose for group photograph 

"Although the current response is tied to the Borno floods, the government has been actively preparing for such events, and informed that earlier in the year, funding was allocated to all states to implement measures aimed at mitigating the impact of flooding." Chief Olawale Edun.


The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, participated today in the inaugural meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on the Evaluation of Dams. chaired by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Utsev.

At the meeting convened to assess the safety and functionality of dams nationwide, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation underscored the recent review of the devastating floods in Maiduguri and surrounding areas which was discussed during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on September 23rd, 2024 where the Council emphasized the urgent need for a Disaster Relief Fund to enable a swift response to national disasters in order to minimize the hardships experienced by affected communities.

This has been described as a decisive step toward addressing Nigeria’s flood-related challenges.

Approved by President Tinubu, the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee has been tasked with evaluating the structural integrity of Nigeria’s dams, assessing their social and environmental impact on local communities, and formulating a comprehensive plan to address the challenges posed by these critical infrastructures.

Addressing the media after the meeting, HM Edun highlighted that although the current response is tied to the Borno floods, the government has been actively preparing for such events, and informed that earlier in the year, funding was allocated to all states to implement measures aimed at mitigating the impact of flooding.

The Honourable Minister further informed that President Tinubu has also established a separate committee to create a Disaster Relief Fund dedicated to addressing specific national emergencies. 

He noted that, "this initiative will include private sector leadership and is part of government’s broader strategy to strengthen national preparedness, particularly in light of the growing risks posed by climate change."

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Mohammed Manga, Director Information and Public Relations Department of the Federal Ministry of Finance and a copy made available to Naij News Alert in Abuja.

Members of the committee include: 

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

1. Representative of the Minister of Works

2. Mohammed Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation

3. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister Environment

4. Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning

5. Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, Minister of Water Resources & Sanitation

6. Wale Edun, Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy 

7. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, Minister of State Water Resources & Sanitation

8. Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, Minister of state for Housing and Urban Development

9. Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation

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