Committee for Evaluation of Dams holds inaugural meeting to address flooding crisis
Kunle Sanni
The Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee for the Evaluation of Dams has held its inaugural meeting in Abuja, with a focus on developing sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s recurring flooding challenges.
Chaired by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, the committee is tasked with evaluating the structural integrity of dams and assessing their socio-environmental impact on local communities.
The meeting follows the approval by President Bola Tinubu, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on September 23, 2024, to establish both a Disaster Relief Fund and the committee. These initiatives are designed to mitigate the impact of floods and ensure swift relief for affected communities.
Prof. Utsev emphasized the committee’s goal to produce a robust action plan for addressing dam-related infrastructure challenges.
He noted that this effort reflects the government’s commitment to disaster risk management and enhancing long-term resilience to climate-induced hazards.
Additionally, the minister announced the formation of a Project Delivery Unit (PDU) to provide technical assistance to the committee. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, highlighted the importance of the committee’s work in preventing future flood disasters, emphasizing urgency in its execution.
Other key government figures at the meeting, including Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Abubakar Bagudu, and Minister of Finance Wale Edun, reiterated the government’s commitment to disaster preparedness. Bagudu stressed the critical role of funding under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives in improving dams and irrigation infrastructure.
Edun confirmed that every state in the federation has been allocated funding for flood abatement and preparedness efforts.
The high-level meeting, which brought together ministers from various sectors, demonstrates a coordinated government effort to address Nigeria’s pressing flooding crisis and enhance infrastructure resilience across the nation.
