The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has been appointed as member of the National Flood, Erosion, Drought, and Desertification Management Council (NFEDDMC).
The appointment, which was approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) at its 142nd meeting on September 4, 2024 at the State House in Abuja, empowers the Minister to help drive solutions to Nigeria’s critical environmental challenges.
NFEDDMC, an intergovernmental Council Chaired by Kashim Shettima, the Vice-President of Nigeria, leads national efforts to address flooding, erosion, drought, and desertification, which significantly impact communities, agriculture, and ecosystems across the country. The Council’s strategic and coordinated approach includes representatives from key regions and sectors, including the Governors of Kogi, Bayelsa, Oyo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, and Jigawa States.
It also incorporates vital Federal stakeholders such as the Minister of State for Environment, and the Directors-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, National Water Resources Institute, and National Emergency Management Agency. Additional members include the Heads of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Niger Delta Development Commission, North East Development Commission, and representatives from international development partners, reinforcing a collaborative approach to resilience and environmental protection.
With his extensive expertise in water resources management, Utsev brings invaluable insights to NFEDDMC’s mission, enhancing Nigeria’s preparedness and response to environmental hazards.
On November 1, 2024, the Minister and other Council members were formally inaugurated by Vice-President Shettima at the State House, Abuja.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation says it views this appointment as “a vital step forward in Nigeria’s flood control, drought response, erosion prevention, and desertification management efforts.”
