The House of Representatives has resolved to summon the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies for briefing on measures being taken to mitigate flood disasters and other socio economic impacts on citizens living in flood prone areas.
This was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance by the former speaker of the house Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila at plenary.
Mr. Gbajabiamila observed that the country is yet to recover from the 2022 flood, which affected more than four million Nigerians, displaced over two million people, caused the death of 665 people, damaged about 355,986 houses and destroyed an estimated total of 944,989 hectares of farmlands.
“The experience of the 2022 flood caused the federal government of Nigeria to constitute a presidential committee to develop a comprehensive plan of action for preventing flood disasters in Nigeria.
“The action plan proposed both the structural and non-structural measures, better coordination among stakeholders across both states and federal governments to ensure effective flood management in Nigeria.”
Adopting the motion, the House resolved to work with relevant government agencies to ensure the relocation of Nigerians away from flood prone areas.
The House also resolved to ensure that the federal government provide sufficient temporary shelter materials, food and nutritional items as well as medicine.
The House also resolved to encourage communication between the federal and state governments to ensure effective collaboration to prepare for the worst outcome.
Mr. Gbajabiamila later then resigned his membership of the house to take up his new appointment as Chief of staff to the President.
