Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has recommended the construction of new dams and desilting of existing dams and major rivers as measures to tackle the perennial flooding in the country.
Professor Utsev made this recommendation on Thursday at the 145th National Economic Council Meeting, Chaired by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, at the Council Chambers of State House in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the installation of hydrological equipment and the development of dam safety practices were also critical steps to addressing severe flooding that has continue to cause damage across the nation.
Utsev explained that his Ministry is constructing dams nationwide as part of a strategic effort to mitigate the frequent flooding that affects homes, farmlands, infrastructure with negative impact on the national economy.
He informed the Council that the Technical Sub-Committee on Evaluation of Dams, which he chairs, was conducting an evaluation of dams across the country and the report from the committee will be submitted to the Inter-Ministerial Committee upon completion for onward presentation to the President for necessary action.
The Minister noted that all the thirty-six states, including the Federal Capital Territory, were affected by flooding this year, with Borno State worst hit.
He emphasized that his Ministry, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), was promoting the use of data analytics and modeling for flood risk assessment to improve nationwide flood preparedness.
According to him, NIHSA has issued eleven Annual Flood Outlooks (AFOs) since 2013 as part of efforts to raise awareness on the importance of a clean and safe environment.
The Minister appealed to State Governors to encourage their residents to avoid building on waterways and to ensure drainage channels are cleared to help mitigate the impact of flooding.
