It will take 30 years to control flood, says FG

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, said it would take about 30 years of consistent investment to be able to control the current flood menace in different parts of the country.

Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The Minister, who said he made a presentation to the Council jointly with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, also noted that this sort of disaster cannot be prevented but the government can only minimise its impact.

The Minister said despite the early warning system in place, a lot of capital-intensive initiatives still need to be done in the future to avert the consequences of flood disasters, noting it is not something that can be achieved under one administration.

He said the present administration was already working on a flood management masterplan that will take at least three years to complete.

While noting that flood victims ignored warnings to evacuate, Suleiman also blamed tree felling and degraded soil for the massive impact of this year’s floods in the country.