By Mohammed Usman.
Federal government of Nigeria has re-assured Nigerians that there is no cause for flood alarm.
Minister of water resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe stated this during a meeting with the Managing Directors of Nigeria River Basin Development Authorities, in Abuja.
In a statement made available to People’s Daily and signed by the Head, press and public relation unit of the ministry, Mrs Boade Akinola, Ochekpe, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Baba Umar Faruk noted that with the efforts and parameters put in place to check the recurrence of flooding in Nigeria by the Federal Government, it would be difficult for the country to experience the kind of flooding of September, 2012.
“The Ministry is watching with keen interest all the potentials that can lead to flooding and it is therefore monitoring the trend of our water level at all times”, she explained.
She further added that lack of adequate planning and building in flood prone areas are some of the major causes of flooding in our urban cities and therefore called for cooperation from the State and Local Governments in addressing this ugly trend.
The Minister further explained that the Federal Government is presently constructing Kashimbilla multipurpose dam in Taraba state to be completed in December 2014, when completed it would contain water that will come from Benue axis in case of any flooding.
She added that Dasin Hausa dam in Adamawa state is also in the pipeline and when completed will also contain part of the water that will come from Benue axis.
In his presentation, Director General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Engr. Ayoade Shamonda said that the pockets of floods observed in most of our urban cities have been due to obstruction of the drainages and the water channels. He said that the local government should be sensitized on the need to clear all the avenues for the right way of water for free flow and passages of surface run-off during the rainy season.
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