Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Professor Joseph Utsev has said that the interministerial committee set up by President Bola Tinubu to critically evaluate the condition of dams in Nigeria will also work to ensure the establishment of a disaster relief fund and review measures to avert future flood disasters.
The committee met for the first time in Abuja to set in motion modalities for the monitoring and maintenance of the physical condition of dams across the country.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on 23rd September resolved to set up a disaster relief fund to assist in situations of national disasters.
“This was necessitated by the breach of the Alawo dam in Maiduguri and other critical dams in the country that need maintenance or rehabilitation.
“And Mr. President as the chairman of FEC graciously constituted this technical committee with its membership to look into the situation and come up with recommendations to alleviate the challenges and the disasters that Nigeria is facing as a result of flooding,” Utsev said.
Members who attended the interministerial technical committee including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, and the Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, are expected to ensure the comprehensive evaluation of dams as well as an assessment of the social and environmental implications of destructions on local communities.
The committee is also expected to draw up a clear framework to address the challenges faced in the maintenance of dams in the country.
Mohammed Idris told reporters at the event that the country is still grappling with the disaster in Borno State and the Federal Government is proactively looking at the situation with the view to averting a re-occurrence.
The Minister of Finance disclosed that the Federal Government has allocated funds under a renewed infrastructure to support the rehabilitation of dams and irrigation facilities.
“Funding was provided early this year just before the commencement of the heaviest of the rainy season. Every State in the federation was given funds running into billions to prepare themselves,” Edun noted.
NewsQuest gathered that a project delivery unit will be created to assist the committee during the period of its assignment to provide the members with technical support.
The committee also includes the Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu.
