The Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Habib Ahmed today joined other dignitaries and stakeholders to unveil the 2022 Nigeria Flood Impact, Recovery and Mitigation Assessment Survey Report at the United Nations House in Abuja.
The Honourable Minister of Youths Development Dr Jamila Ibrahim-Bio was among the dignitaries that included the Deputy Governor of Anambra State Dr Onyeka Ibezim, the Statistician General, National Bureau of Statistics Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, Secretary to Anambra State Government Prof Solo Chukwulobelu Director General Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency Engr Clement Nze, Resident Representative UNDP Mr Mohammed Yahya.
The flood assessment survey was conducted through an extensive research and collaboration among the United Nations Development Programme, National Emergency Management Agency and the National Bureau of Statistics.
In his remark, the Director General NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed said the report provide an insight into the socio-economic impact of flooding, identified areas of intervention and offered recommendations for addressing the diverse needs of affected communities and long term resilience building, which can be useful for policy and decision makers and stakeholders at all level.
He gave more highlight on the conduct and result of the survey that the report is “a comprehensive overview of the flood situation in Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Jigawa, Kogi and Nasarawa states which accounts for a significant proportion of the total population affected by the 2022 floods. The susceptibility to flooding by the affected states as well as the households underscored the selection of the communities and theses states.”
Furthermore, he said “Nigeria has had its fair share of flooding in the last decade and that has become an increasingly recurrent and destructive phenomenon. Its devastation and scope varies from year to year and its impacts are seriously felt in terms of disruption to the functioning of society such as loss of lives and displacements, economic losses, destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods to mention but few.”
The DG NEMA appreciated the UNDP for supporting the assessment and the NBS for driving the project and collaborating with NEMA on behalf of the Federal Government.
The Minister of Youths Development DR Jamila Ibrahim-Bio commended NEMA, NBS and UNDP for successful conduct of the flood survey and requested for extension of similar project in the future to cover Kwara, Niger and other states that are also often impacted by flood.
In his remark, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State Dr Ibezim said about 9 Local Government Areas of the State are always impacted by flood every year. He urged the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the recurrent annual flooding in the country.
The Statistician General of NBS Prince Adeyemi Adeniran gave details of the process and statistics from the conduct of the flooding survey and also appreciated NEMA and UNDP for the success of the project.
The UNDP Resident Representative Mr Mohammed Yahya reaffirmed commitment of the UNDP to partner NEMA within its mandates to support efforts towards assisting Nigeria where possible. He also appreciated NEMA and NBS for the success of the Flooding survey project.
Other speakers at the occasion included representative of the Honorable Minister of State for Environment and the Director General of NIHSA Engr Clement Nze that presented goodwill messages.
29th November, 2023
