Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumum, highlighted these issues during a press conference on Thursday.

As of July 3, 2024, a total of 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cholera cases have been reported. The ongoing heavy rains have led to significant flooding in several states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), exacerbating the risk of cholera spread.

“We are calling on states and local government councils to intensify and step up efforts to avert flood-related disasters in their domains as we approach the peak of the flooding season,” Terlumum stated.

He emphasized the need for immediate action to clear blocked drainages, noting that some states have already experienced severe flooding since April. This has resulted in casualties, displacement, and loss of property.

Terlumum also confirmed that there has been no release of water from any dams within or outside Nigeria. For the Kainji and Jebba Dams on the River Niger, water is still being impounded in their reservoirs.

River flooding is expected to increase from this month, with states such as Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Adamawa, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba, and the FCT likely to be affected.

The minister advised, “Clearing of blocked drainage systems and canals, relocation of people living along waterways, and desilting of river channels and canals by states and local governments are crucial measures to mitigate flood impacts.”

These recommendations aim to prevent further flooding and minimize the health risks associated with cholera and other waterborne diseases.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, addressed the situation in a statement, highlighting that Lagos experienced about nine hours of continuous rainfall since the early hours of Wednesday.

He noted that the persistent heavy rainfall over the past week has led to a significant rise in the level of the Lagos lagoon.

Wahab assured the public that the flash floods, which affected areas such as Iyana-Oworo and other parts of the state, would recede once the rain subsides and the lagoon levels decrease.

He mentioned that officials from the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang had been deployed to major black spots, including Iyana-Oworo, to clear any blockages.

He advised residents in low-lying areas to relocate to higher ground to protect their lives and properties.

Additionally, he warned against wading through flooded areas with vehicles, as even a foot of flowing water with high tide could sweep away a vehicle regardless of the number of occupants

The displacement, spanning from 2016 to 2023, coincided with the 2023 World Children’s Day.

UNICEF highlighted that over 110 million Nigerian children are now at risk due to the escalating effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, floods, droughts, and severe storms.

Dr. Salisu Dahiru, Director General of the National Council on Climate Change, stressed the need for a swift and inclusive response, particularly focusing on the needs of vulnerable populations such as children and women in decision-making and implementation.

Christian Munduate, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of providing a platform for children to express their concerns about climate change, shaping a collective path toward a sustainable future.

To address these challenges, stakeholders in education, the environment, media, and relevant organizations gathered at Evolution Hotel, Gombe, for the launch of the Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) in Nigeria on World Children’s Day.

The event, streamed live by UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, outlined key climate risks to children and presented multi-sectoral climate actions planned for Nigeria from 2023 to 2027.

Notable attendees included UNICEF officials, Gombe’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, and representatives from the Project Coordinator of Agro-Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL), as well as journalists and advocates for peace.

Following the launch, an inter-school quiz competition on climate change was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Gombe State Ministry of Education, ACReSAL, and Pathway to Peace DW Academia.

Government Girls Mega College, Gombe, secured the first position, while Government Day Secondary School, Gandu, and Government Day Secondary School, Gombe, claimed second and third places, respectively.

According to Clement Nze, the Director General of the agency, these floods are primarily caused by flash floods, inadequately constructed or absent flood channels, and insufficient drainage systems throughout the country.

Nze made these statements during a press briefing held at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. He further clarified that even if the Lagdo Dam were to collapse, its impact would not extend beyond Numan in Adamawa State.

The Director General noted that the dam is currently closed, and while urging for calm, he emphasized that flood alerts had been issued to states that would be adversely affected since February.

Additionally, Mr. Nze is advocating for the establishment of earth dams along the tributaries of the Niger and Benue rivers, and he is urging swift progress in constructing the Kashimbila Dam in Adamawa State.

He also clarified that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Nigeria and Cameroon in 2016 does not mandate Cameroonian authorities to notify Nigeria prior to releasing water from the Lagdo Dam.

During a press briefing in Abuja, organized by the Presidential Committee established by President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, stated that the newly formed committee would execute a range of policies and rescue operations aimed at minimizing the consequences of the flooding from the Lagdo Dam.

Edu called on the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to take swift action by ensuring the immediate relocation of Nigerians from flood-prone communities to safer areas.

She said, “This coordinating meeting is holding at the instance of President Bola Tinubu, who directed such after I raised the issue of flooding in today’s Federal Executive Council meeting. Mr President directed that all relevant ministries must meet to find a solution to the issue of flooding.

“As earlier stated, the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon was opened recently and we will see the effect in the coming days. Flood has been a major issue in Nigeria and has been causing loss of lives and property. We have been given a task by Mr President to ensure proper preparedness against the effect of the opening of the Lagdo Dam.

“One of the things government in different states must begin to do is to ensure that drainages are cleaned. Blockages must be removed. Also, proper enlightenment and sensitisation of residents must be carried out.

“Residents in affected areas must begin to relocate to safer planes. States must stand up to involuntary relocations. It is inconceivable to witness avoidable loss of lives and property.”

The Minister of Environment, Iziaq Salako, as well as the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, joined the humanitarian minister during the briefing, and promised to intensify efforts against the devastating impact of floods.

This information was conveyed by Fatima Kasim, the Director of Planning, Research, and Forecasting at NEMA, during the Emergency Coordination Forum Meeting held in Abuja on Thursday.

Kasim acknowledged that flooding has become a recurring issue in Nigeria, primarily triggered by factors such as improper construction practices and inadequate infrastructure design. As of August 9, she provided the following data for the 2023 flood situation:

• Number of affected states: 10
• Number of affected individuals: 33,983
• Number of displaced individuals: 7,353
• Number of injured individuals: 75
• Number of fatalities: 5
• Number of houses extensively damaged: 1,679
• Total damaged farmlands: 866 hectares

NEMA’s Director General, Mustapha Ahmed, highlighted that the agency has activated preparedness, mitigation, and response measures throughout the country.

The Emergency Coordination Forum aims to unite key stakeholders in tackling ongoing disasters and emergencies, including floods.

Engineer Clement Nzeh, Director General of the National Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), identified states at high risk of floods based on the 2023 Annual Flood Outlook prediction.

The list includes Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This alert was conveyed in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Environment, obtained by Channels Television on Wednesday.

The identified states and communities at risk are as follows: Plateau (Langtang and Shendam); Kano (Sumaila, Tudun Wada); Sokoto (Shagari, Goronyo, and Silame); Delta (Okwe); Kaduna (Kachia); Akwa Ibom (Upenekang); Adamawa (Mubi, Demsa, Song, Mayo-Belwa, Jimeta, and Yola); and Katsina (Katsina, Jibia, Kaita, and Bindawa).

Additionally, the flood alert includes Kebbi (Wara, Yelwa, and Gwandu); Zamfara (Shinkafi and Gummi); Borno (Briyel); Jigawa (Gwaram); Kwara (Jebba); and Niger (Mashegu and Kontagora).

The government strongly advises relevant stakeholders in the affected states to take precautionary measures in order to prevent the loss of lives and property.

It is crucial for residents and authorities in these areas to be prepared and implement appropriate measures to mitigate the potential risks associated with heavy rainfall and possible flooding.

Femi Gbajabiamila, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, presented a motion to raise awareness about the imminent flood disaster as Nigeria enters the rainy season.

In his motion, Gbajabiamila emphasized the urgent need for action against flooding, highlighting the potential devastation that could occur if immediate measures are not taken to mitigate or prevent its consequences.

The motion, titled ‘Need to Commence Active Measures to Mitigate the Probable Devastation of a Severe Flood Season and Prepare Palliative Intervention to Prevent the Worst Socio-Economic Consequences for Nigerians in the Affected Areas,’ was unanimously adopted by the House.

As a result, the House has resolved to invite the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to brief the House of Representatives on the measures in place to mitigate flood disasters and manage the socio-economic impact on citizens residing in flood-prone areas.

Additionally, the House aims to collaborate with these agencies to relocate individuals from the most flood-prone areas and ensure sufficient stockpiles of temporary shelter materials, food and nutrition items, and medicine to support those affected.

Furthermore, the House has resolved to encourage effective communication between the Federal Government and state governments, fostering collaboration to prevent severe outcomes in flood-prone areas.

Gbajabiamila emphasized that a significant portion of the country is susceptible to annual destructive flooding incidents, which have increased in severity and devastation in recent years.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s seasonal climate prediction indicated an early onset of rain and heavy rainfall throughout the season, further emphasizing the need for proactive measures.

Gbajabiamila highlighted that the 2023 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency identified 178 Local Government Areas in 32 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, as highly probable flood risk areas.

He also noted the impact of the 2022 flood, which affected millions of Nigerians, causing displacement, loss of life, and significant damage to property and farmland.

By implementing comprehensive plans and promoting collaboration between the federal and state governments, Gbajabiamila stressed the potential to mitigate the loss of life and socio-economic hardships caused by recurring flooding events.

He called for active measures to prevent the worst consequences of a severe flood season and prepare palliative and intervention measures to protect Nigerians in affected areas.

The motion received timely support from other members of the House, who acknowledged the devastating effects of floods in previous years and emphasized the need for government transparency and public awareness.

One member highlighted the existence of a committee report on flood mitigation submitted to the previous government and requested a copy of the report for review.

Following Gbajabiamila’s resignation as Speaker and presentation of his letter of resignation to the House, the new Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, read it aloud.

Gbajabiamila then bid farewell to the House, receiving cheers and a standing ovation from fellow lawmakers.

Throughout his 20-year career in the House, he served as Minority Leader, Majority Leader, and Speaker before assuming the position of Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

According to the government, early warnings given to the states in 2022 by NEMA were ignored that led to the devastating effects all over the affected areas.

The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mustapha Mohammed made this known in Abuja when he appeared before the Senator Yusuf Yusuf, APC, Taraba Central led Senate Committee on Special Duties to defend the  2023 budget.

He said, “Let me also use this opportunity to prevail on the committee to intervene on our behalf. We have written to states several times. This flood is still coming in 2023.

“They must be advised early to set up SEMA and local emergency committee and fund them adequately. We gave similar warning last year but our advises were ignored.”

Mohammed who told the senators that despite early warnings issued to state and local governments whose areas are flood-proned, none of them had taken any positive steps to guide against it, however explained that the Federal Government had opened up the nation’s silos and had released 12,000 tonnes of grains already which were shared to all the 36 states of the federation

The NEMA Director- General who advised that State governments must do  more and be proactive in disaster management instead of abandoning it to the federal government,  said that  the National Assembly should help to inform the state early enough to avoid another devastating effects.

Mohammed who noted that NEMA lacked adequate personnel to handle disaster management, said that state governments should help, adding that they do not enjoy hazard allowance.

In her remarks, a member of the committee, Senator Uche Ekwunife, PDP, Anambra Central who expressed doubts over the possibility of the National Assembly to tell states and local governments to put arrangement that could prevent flooding in place,  said, “The National Assembly is an independent institution that is not answerable to any states. The states are also not answerable to us.

“We can only appeal to them but our constituents has a greater role to play by telling their state governments to act fast on the NEMA warning.

At the end of the day, the Committee  challenged the people of the affected states to hold their  governors accountable because is beyond the mandate and jurisdiction of the National Assembly.

The Senators  who urged NEMA to make request for additional manpower through the head of service to the president,  stressed the need to review  the extant conditions of service of NEMA so that their staff could enjoy a special salary scale.

Also speaking, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, PDP, Osun  appealed to the states to use the huge financial resources that is available to it  especially the ecological funds to address the environmental challenges confronting them.

The NMA National Committee on Epidemics and Pandemics Awareness also called on governments to provide potable water to the affected communities as the bodies of water in these areas were heavily polluted and unfit for consumption.

The Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Hassan, and the Secretary, Dr. Enejo Joseph, disclosed this in Lokoja in a statement made available to journalists on Monday.

According to the statement, the provision of water purifiers as announced by the Federal Government is a step in the right direction and should be extended to all the affected communities.

Another measure that should be taken, according to the NMA, is the provision of habitable settlements with insecticide-treated bed nets.

The statement read in part, “This year’s flooding took the nation by storm. In terms of intensity, casualties and spread, it’s unprecedented, affecting almost thirty-four states of the federation. Scores of people were killed, properties worth billions were damaged, and, for the very first time in history, Nigerians witnessed coffins probably containing human remains exhumed from the place of burial by the ravaging flood floating around their places of habitation.

“The attention of the NMA under its President, Dr. Uche Rowland Ojinmah, has been drawn to the above ugly development and its implications for public health. The NMA, as an association with the interest of the health of Nigerians as a foremost priority, is disturbed by this disaster and what it portends for public health.

“It is against this backdrop we are calling on Government to maintain and indeed step up the existing programmes on immunisation. Awareness campaigns on personal hygiene such as hand washing, proper washing of utensils, and environmental sanitation should also be intensified.

“Although the Government is making efforts in providing potable water, victims should be advised to, where necessary, boil their water, allow it cool before drinking.

“This year’s flood disaster is unprecedented. It’s imperative that adequate measures are instituted to avert epidemics. The cost of prevention is far cheaper than that of managing any outbreak of epidemic. A stitch in time saves nine.”