The Federal Government has unveiled new measures to tackle the recurring menace of flooding across Nigeria. Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said in Abuja that the ministry is working with relevant agencies and lawmakers to develop both short- and long-term solutions.
He listed existing interventions such as afforestation, early warning alerts, enforcement of environmental laws, sensitization campaigns, and installation of modern flood-control equipment.
Lawal added that new approaches, including rainwater harvesting, construction of dams, creation of water channels, flood laboratories, tree planting, and stricter land-use regulation, are also being considered.
The minister urged governors and the FCT Administration to stop converting forest reserves and waterways into residential or commercial areas.
Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Flooding, Mandala Usman, stressed that prevention is cheaper than response, calling for stronger collaboration, revival of National Sanitation Day, and better use of ecological funds.
