During the inauguration of a three-day retreat for senior management staff of the water ministry in Abuja, Prof. Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, emphasized that this plan would effectively address flooding issues in the country.

Nigeria faces severe flooding during the rainy season, resulting in the loss of lives and property. Nevertheless, concerted efforts have been underway from the government and other stakeholders to tackle this challenge.

In his speech during the retreat on Friday, Minister Utsev checked out the ongoing regional collaboration under the Lake Chad Commission and Niger Basin Authority for managing cross-border water systems.

He noted, "It is also important to mention that a National Strategic Plan for Flood Management in Nigeria was developed collaboratively with other stakeholders and has been submitted to Mr. President, awaiting further instructions."

Minister Utsev, represented by Minister of State Bello Goronyo, also stressed that the ministry stands ready to engage in emergency response efforts during droughts, floods, and other weather-related disasters, with the aim of mitigating their impact.

Additionally, the minister disclosed that Nigeria currently registers a total of 408 dams at various stages of completion nationwide, contributing to a substantial storage capacity of nearly 70 billion cubic meters.