Minister Advocates For Integrated Flood Management Approach

Blessing Bature-Akpakpan, Abuja


The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has concluded plans for an Integrated Flood Management approach where flooding is effectively managed using multi-sectoral expertise, and flood waters are harnessed for beneficial purposes.

The Minister made this known during a technical stakeholders meeting for the review of draft national multi-sectoral flood, emergency preparedness and response plan

Farouq said, "As you are aware that each year many people lose their lives, their homes, and sources of livelihood due to flooding. For instance, in 2012, which is arguably the worst flood incident in the country, over 7 hundred million persons were affected. Flooding has also been exacerbated in both frequency and magnitude due to climate change, other humanitarian crises, and quite frankly poor coordination of flood risk management cycle from a policy and operational point of view.

"It is against this background that in August 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari directed this Ministry to work with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and other relevant MDAs as well as relevant stakeholders to develop a National Plan that will coordinate various flood management responses and interventions across the country, to reduce the impact of floods.

"The Plan identifies that flooding risks are cross-cutting and multi-sectorial and was, therefore, developed as an inter-ministerial, inter-agency, inter-governmental and multi-sectorial collaboration, and coordination framework necessary for the successful implementation and execution of the Plan. This is to paint a picture of how cross-cutting flood issues are in Nigeria and why we are holding a stakeholder review today.

She However said, this Plan provides a unique in-depth analysis of flood preparedness, mitigation and response at all levels and clarifies agency-specific mandates, roles and responsibilities. Hence, the need of such document for the country.

She thank all stakeholders for dedicating their time to participating in the review.