19th August, 2018
The Federal Government, through, ECOWAS Early Warning and Response Mechanism in Nigeria, ECOEWRM, has unveiled plans to set up a technical committee on the vulnerability assessment of flood mitigation across the states of the federation.
This came as Governor Akinwunkmi Ambode of Lagos State is expected to kick off ECOEWRM, two days workshop in Lagos today, which is scheduled to take place in other six identified states of the federation.
Head of ECOEWRM/Senior Technical Adviser to Vice President on Disaster Risk Management, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu who stated this in a statement, yesterday, stressed that the event aimed towards mitigating imminent flood incidents across the identified states.
According to the statement, the workshop with the theme:“ Building Flood Resillient Communities,” is expected to be declared open by governors of the states where it will take place, commencing from August 20th to September 14th, 2018.
Oke-Osanyintolu listed the schedule of events to include: “From August 20-21st, Ikeja, Lagos; Benin, Edo State, August 27th-28th, Porthacourt, Rivers State, August 30th-31st. Others are Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, September 3-4th, Owerri, Imo State, September 6-7 and Katsina, Katsina, September 10-11th while the programme had been slated to hold in Awka, Anambra State, September, 13th-14th.
He said:“State governors will be required to give an update on efforts they have made towards mitigating imminent flood incidents in their states. Participants will also review the 2018 seasonal rainfall predictions and the annual flood outlook.
“One of the outcomes of the event will be the setting up of a technical committee on the vulnerability assessment of the states.
“Participants at the event will comprise of state governors, relevant ministries, deferral legislators, state commissioners, the Armed Forces, Police and para-military.
“Others are; developmental partners, Local Government Chairmen, civil society organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs.”