In a bid to enhance the country’s response to flood disasters, the National Economic Council (NEC) has proposed the establishment of a National Flood Management Council. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi, briefing State House Correspondents after the 137th NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, revealed that the council would be housed in the Office of the Vice President to ensure effective coordination of responses and mitigation efforts.
Governor Bello outlined the key recommendations made by the NEC, emphasizing the need for an annual budget for states, federal, and local governments to address flood-related issues. The proposed funds include the Ecological Fund, Natural Resources Development Fund, Special Intervention Fund, Disaster and Emergency Fund, Climate Sensitive Budget Approach, Wind Bond, Blue Bond, PPP Approach, and foreign interventions.
The governor expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu would take proactive measures to implement the recommendations and tackle the recurring issue of flooding across the country. He highlighted President Tinubu’s commitment to finding lasting solutions, referencing the Presidential Committee on Flood Mitigation, Adaptation, Preparedness, and Response, inaugurated on October 12.
Governor Bello indicated that the NEC had been given seven days to review various reports and committees set up by the Federal Government, leading to the formulation of the proposed roadmap for addressing flood-related challenges.
Additionally, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, shared insights from a presentation by the Chief Executive Officer of African Reinsurance, emphasizing the potential benefits of national catastrophe insurance in protecting against natural disasters. The presentation also covered crop insurance to assist farmers, pastoralists, and small-scale holders in safeguarding their crops. The NEC directed the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, alongside the Minister of Budget and National Planning, to chart a roadmap for adopting both insurance measures.
