Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Terlumun Joseph Utsev, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening national strategies aimed at tackling recurring flooding and protecting vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja during the official visit of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Flood Management and Response to the Ministry, the Minister outlined progress on major flood control and water resource projects. These include the concessioning of the Kashimbilla Multipurpose Dam in Taraba State, the near completion of the Mangu Dam in Plateau, and the Adada River Dam in Enugu. He added that ongoing works on the Alau Dam in Borno and the planned Datsin Hausa buffer dam in Adamawa are equally critical for flood control, irrigation, and power generation.
Prof. Utsev stressed that thousands of hectares of irrigable land have been destroyed by floods in recent years, underscoring the urgency of coordinated interventions. He pledged the Ministry’s dedication to completing priority dam and irrigation projects, strengthening early warning systems through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), and fostering public-private partnerships to attract investment and technical expertise. He also emphasized collaboration with state governments to ensure completed projects are fully utilized for both water supply and flood mitigation.
In his remarks, Honourable Midala Usman Balami, Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, said the visit, mandated by Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, was focused on addressing Nigeria’s recurring flood crises. He called for a holistic and transparent multi-sectoral approach, while commending NIHSA for its early warning initiatives.
Other committee members pledged legislative support to provide adequate funding and technical backing for nationwide flood management projects. Present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah; Directors from the Ministry; the Director-General of NIHSA; and the Director-General of the National Water Resources Institute, Kaduna.
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