Minister Urges Bauchi Communities To Clear Drainages, Heed Experts To Prevent Floods

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has admonished flood-prone Communities in Bauchi state to ensure that drainages are cleared as part of measures to avert future flood disaster.

The minister who gave the advice while speaking at the Grand Finale of the ECOWAS Flood Response Project held at the government house Bauchi on Wednesday, urged the affected areas to ensure that waterways are opened to address the menace of flooding.

According to him, with effective collaboration between the stakeholders, Nigeria’s capacity for disaster preparedness and responses would be better suited to address and mitigate the impact of natural disasters.

“What has happened has happened, going forward, what do we do? We have to clear drainages, make sure that the waterways are opened, prepare ourselves before the rainy season, listen to advises by the experts”, he said.

While expressing confidence that ECOWAS will continue to support the government of Bauchi state in its effort to overcome the challenges posed by the recent flooding, Tuggar disclosed that the ECOWAS unit in the ministry of foreign Affairs will continue working closely with the core partners to ensure that the needs of Nigerians are properly tabled at the international fora to get the kind of support and coordination required.

Tuggar thanked the Bauchi state government and the ECOWAS Commission for the continues relief interventions in Nigeria in times of need and the Nigerian Red cross Society for Expertise and dedication to service.

The minister also expressed solidarity with Governor Bala Mohammed and the people of Bauchi state, commending the coordinated effort of the ECOWAS, federal ministry of humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nigeria Red cross Society and other implementing partners.

Ambassador Tuggar who said that the federal government of Nigeria recognizes the devastating effect of flood on the people and communities, expressed solidarity with the affected households in Bauchi state.

“It is imperative that we ensure non of us is affected again, therefore improving access to food, shelter and essential services is crucial”, he pointed out.

The project, valued at $200,000, aims to provide relief to victims of the 2024 floods, with the distribution of food and non-food items as well as cash transfers to affected households in Bauchi state.

Since its commencement on 15 December 2024, the ECOWAS Emergency Flood Response has supported 850 households across the Katagum, Jama’are, Zaki, Gamawa, and Giade local government areas, with a total of 1,000 households projected to benefit from the initiative.

Under the project, each of the 1,000 affected households will receive 25 kilograms of rice, 15 kilograms of beans, 15 kilograms of garri, 5 litres of vegetable oil, 5 litres of palm oil and N75,000 cash transfer.

In addition, beneficiaries will receive essential non-food items such as a mosquito-treated net, a blanket, bucket, mat and a 25-litre jerrycan as funded by ECOWAS.