President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken immediate action to address the impending flood crisis in Nigeria. The directive was disclosed by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Communications, Office of the Vice President, in a statement released on Tuesday.
During an emergency meeting at Aso Villa in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, emphasized the importance of a proactive approach to tackle the issue. The President has set up a committee, led by Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, with a 7-day deadline to deliver a comprehensive report on the situation.
Shettima stated, “While the situation may not be as dire as initially perceived, it is crucial that we remain prepared. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has provided valuable insights, and we cannot afford to be complacent. The report from the Presidential Committee, along with the 2022 Federal Executive Council-approved preparedness plan, must be harmonized and implemented without delay.”
Addressing the flood crisis in Nigeria requires a feasible roadmap, and the responsibilities will be shared among the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the Federal Government. Shettima highlighted the importance of ensuring resources are readily available to the states through these commissions and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to facilitate timely preparations.
“I have invited the NEDC and NDDC to coordinate their interventions with NEMA and release necessary resources to the states for preparedness. NEDC will take care of Taraba, Bauchi, and Adamawa, while NDDC will cover Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Cross River. For states like Ebonyi, Kogi, and Benue, we will utilize our savings to provide assistance. It is our collective responsibility to implement this roadmap,” Shettima added.
This swift action by President Tinubu comes after NEMA issued a flood alert to residents of nine states- Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba.
