Stakeholders have canvassed the use of technology in tackling flooding in Nigeria, through innovations such as flood mapping, web-based flood early warning systems, as well as water purification technology.
This was part of the consensus of stakeholders at an emergency meeting on the flood situation in Nigeria held in Abuja at the instance of the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, disaster management and social development, Mallam Nasir Gwarzo, intending to quantify and qualify the magnitude of the 2022 flood in comparison with the 2012 flood, the lessons learned and the way forward.
This was based on the overwhelming cases of flooding in some states within the country that led to the loss of lives and property.
Part of the meeting was a brief presentation and update of the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction and the seasonal updates by the director-general of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Mansur Matazu who was represented by the assistant general manager, climate services, Mr. Oyegade Adeleke.
The stakeholders, including representatives from the NiMet, NAMA, NIHSA, NSCDC, NASRDA, FFS, NCDC and FMHADMSD, discussed a wide range of issues that include the evidence of flooding, which is becoming an annual occurrence with devastating consequences and how to mitigate and manage them; Recognising the link between climate change and flooding; human activities such as poor building practices, waste, dam management, amongst others.
