The National Economic Council (NEC) has declared recent flooding across Nigeria a “major national disaster” as the scale of devastation grows. The Council, in its Thursday briefing, reported that the floods have severely affected 34 states, spanning 217 local government areas, and displaced more than 740,000 people.
NEC’s latest assessment reveals a death toll of 321, with 2,854 individuals injured and extensive damage to homes and agricultural land. Charles Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, underscored the urgency of coordinated efforts, stressing that State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) need to enhance their collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to handle the crisis effectively.
The Council further recommended that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation conduct a comprehensive evaluation of Nigeria’s waterways and dam infrastructure to address vulnerabilities. An annual desilting of waterways was also proposed as a preventive measure to mitigate future flood risks.
NEC has requested that state governments yet to submit their flood impact reports do so promptly, highlighting that these reports are crucial to developing effective and targeted relief initiatives.
Discover more from DnewsInfo
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.