FG Reaffirms Commitment to Flood Mitigation, Evaluates Dam Safety
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to mitigating flood risks across Nigeria as top officials gathered for the inaugural meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on the Evaluation of Dams. The meeting, held in Abuja, was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Utsev, with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, in attendance.
The session focused on assessing the safety and operational capacity of dams across the country, a critical step following the devastating floods in Maiduguri and its surrounding areas. The floods, which were reviewed at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on September 23, 2024, prompted calls for a Disaster Relief Fund to accelerate responses to national emergencies and alleviate the suffering of affected communities.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the formation of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee, which has been tasked with evaluating the structural integrity of dams and analyzing their social and environmental impacts on local communities. The committee will also draft a comprehensive action plan to address the challenges posed by these infrastructures.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Edun acknowledged that while the current response is centered on the Borno floods, the federal government had earlier allocated funding to all states to implement preventive measures against flooding. He also revealed that President Tinubu had established a separate committee to create a Disaster Relief Fund that would focus on addressing national emergencies, with leadership from the private sector as part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen disaster preparedness amid rising climate risks.
The federal government’s move is seen as part of a renewed effort to mitigate the growing threat of natural disasters, particularly as climate change continues to exacerbate extreme weather events across Nigeria.
