Flood destroys 80,000 houses in 29 states, says FG

Minister of State Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has stated that the flood may have destroyed over 80,000 housing units, with millions of people without shelter, clean water, food, health care, and education in 29 states of the federation.

Salako said this during a press conference in Abuja, saying, this situation is indeed worrisome.

“We sympathize with the victims spread all over the Nigerian Federation, especially in the worst affected states, like Borno, Bauchi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, and Jigawa,” Salako said.

He commiserated with the governments and people of the affected states, regretting that the devastating flooding had injured or traumatized many people in 176 local governments and destroyed property and livelihoods.

“We are concerned with the happenings before, during, and aftermath of extreme weather events and emergency situations, not limited to but including flooding. As we are witnessing this period, it is necessary to point out the economic loss, and has the potential to usher in more worrisome situations of deadly flood-related diseases and health conditions.”

Explaining, he argued that a team of experts from the Environment Health Registration Council of Nigeria, the Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, the Department of Flood, Erosion and Coastal Zone Management, and the National Park Services are heading to Maiduguri to perform several post flood services.

The Environment Minister declared: In line with the presidential directives and furtherance of the Key Priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Ministry has mobilized technical and material support to the people and government of Borno State to mitigate the negative impact of the flood.