In order to effectively respond to flood disasters across in the Nigeria, the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) has disclosed that Nigeria needs N147 million to ensure no one affected is left out.
This was disclosed during a stakeholders meeting on flood response organized by the Royal Heritage Health Foundation in collaboration with UNFPA in Minna.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Heritage Health Foundation, Elijah Olusoji Sogunro, out of the N175 million needed for flood response in the country, Nigeria can only afford N28 million.
He said that with additional N147 million available to the country, the response to flood will be rapid which would mitigate future occurrences.
Sogunro said that the 2018 flood in Nigeria can be termed as one of the worst experienced in the country with nearly a quarter of a million households from 87 local government areas affected.
“The 2018 flood affected nearly a quarter of a million households from 87 local government areas. There were 70 casualties, 199 deaths and 1036 injuries.”
The Niger state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mustapha Jubril said that Niger state was one of the state worst hit by flood as 22 out of its 25 local government areas were affected.
He lamented that the problem faced by the state government which has increased the effect of the flood in the state is the refusal of the people to move uplands during flood because of cultural and ancestral attachment.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Idris Ibrahim however noted that with collaborative efforts from various partners, the state government has able to set up an IDP camp and help mitigate the losses of the people affected in the flood.
A Humanitarian Analyst from UNFPA, Dr. Hamira Welye advised that government come up with strategies to address flood before the rainy season giving examples of best practices in other countries.
“There is need to build a strong street in what can be done to mitigate flooding disaster in the state bid to prepare for the 2019 flood.”
He further said that the organization will present its plan to the state government before the 2019 rainy season.