Leadership (Abuja)
Pamela Sombo
18 September 2007
Abuja — As part of its strategies to control flood and conserve water, the ministry of environment, housing and urban development has said that it will establish a national flood insurance scheme.
This was disclosed in ministry's national erosion and flood control policy statement which states that the ministry is set to forecast, prevent, monitor and manage flood including optimal utilisation of flood water for agricultural and other purposes as well as management of floodplains.
The objectives of the policy on flood control and water conservation is to put in place appropriate mechanism and structures for flood prevention, control and water conservation, undertake flood hazard assessment including hazard mapping and risk evaluation and undertake flood forecasting and warning on flood prone areas.
Also, "liaise with operators of dams to minimise the adverse impacts of released flood water, sensitise the public on the management of flood at minimal cost and taking advantage of its potential benefits, provide regulations for flood plain management based on flood plain zoning and promote community education on the appropriate and simple techniques for flood control and water conservation".
The policy stated further that the ministry will "promote flood water conservation through judicious use and storage of flood water, facilitate conservation of water for sustainable food production, agricultural practices and rural development through provision of appropriate remedial measures to mitigate any negative environmental impact.
"Devise strategies for managing the population during flood in collaboration with national emergency management agency as well as the monitoring of all activities that could increase runoff and or block water channels", it stated.
In achieving this, the ministry has said that it will develop and maintain data inventory on flood prone areas and establish a functional flood data bank, liaise with relevant ministries and agencies to promote and strengthen the establishment of meteorological and river gauging stations to generate adequate data for flood forecasting, saying that an emergency preparedness plan for monitoring, evaluating and mitigating flood disasters is eminent.
The ministry is thus set to encourage training and research for capacity building, encourage the participation and collaboration of non governmental organisations and local communities, develop structures for flood water conservation and embark on physical and biological measures for flood control and management.
It maintained further that it will implement non structural measures for flood damage control as flood plain regulation, building code, flood plain zoning and storm proofing, utilize floodwater for underground water recharge, hydropower generation, agricultural and other purposes in collaboration with relevant ministries/agencies while taking public awareness and enlightenment campaigns.
"Establish and protect right of way for the drainage alignment, establish, through professionals, temporary/permanent flood control procedures on construction sites that must be part of the contract specification, it concluded.
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