Abuja: The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has called on states to prioritize emergency preparedness in managing flood disasters, urging them to rely less on federal intervention. This appeal was made by Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, the ministry’s Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation, during the WASH in Emergency Technical Working Group meeting held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ugoh emphasized the importance of states taking proactive measures to prevent flood emergencies. She noted that many states depend heavily on federal government intervention, stressing the need for increased awareness and preparedness to mitigate emergencies and reduce diseases such as cholera. Ugoh stated, “Flood preparedness is key, we hope to see state governments take ownership of emergency preparedness and response, this will help the country.”
Ishaq Ado, representing the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), expressed concern over states’ dependence on federal funding during emerg
encies. He outlined NEMA’s initiatives to enhance emergency responses for climate-related disasters in 2024, including risk mapping of vulnerable areas based on annual forecasts. Ado identified significant obstacles, such as limited funding and resources, which hindered NEMA’s response capabilities. “Only N4 billion of the approved N10 billion flood intervention fund has been received, and essential equipment like rescue boats, life jackets, and mobile clinics is lacking,” Ado stated. He urged state agencies to assume a more active role, reducing reliance on federal support for improved disaster coordination, while anticipating increased funding for 2024 flood recovery and preparation for potential 2025 flooding.
Mr. Attah Benson, National Coordinator for the Society for Water and Sanitation, highlighted ongoing efforts to combat cholera and waterborne diseases in states including Adamawa, Borno, Taraba, Enugu, Anambra, and Jigawa. He emphasized the need for heightened mobilization in high-risk states such a
s Borno, Jigawa, Anambra, and Enugu. Benson referenced the WASHNORM 3 report, which identified deficiencies in Nigeria’s water infrastructure, noting that 530,142 out of 2.3 million water facilities were non-functional. He suggested that states explore alternatives, such as centralized water systems for urban areas, rather than relying solely on rural handpumps.
Jessica Akinrogbe, WASH focal point at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, reported cholera cases across 36 states and the FCT, with Lagos having the highest number at 4,627 cases. She noted that Borno and Katsina recorded 2,483 and 2,085 cases, respectively, during epidemiology week 44. Akinrogbe mentioned that while the cholera trend was lower compared to previous years, better coordination among stakeholders was necessary to reverse the current trend.
Representatives from the UN Children’s Fund, Society for Family Health, and U-Save Foundation also shared updates on emergency interventions and developments in the WASH sectors.