The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has reacted to the growing concerns of the disastrous flooding being experienced across the country.
Adamu who featured during Channels Television’s Politics Today, said that declaring a state of emergency in the affected states was not necessary as emergency agencies are not yet overwhelmed
This is even as it has been reported that over 600 persons have died and millions displaced due to flooding related disasters this year with many parts of the country still submerged under water.
But Adamu stated, “It is certainly an emergency situation,” when quizzed on why the government had yet to declare a state of emergency. “But it depends on what you call a ‘state of emergency’.
“We have not reached a situation, in my view, where the relevant emergency management authorities are not being able to deal with this situation. I’m not aware that has happened.
“I’m sure if the situation was beyond our capacity, certainly a state of emergency, whatever that may encompass, would have been declared in the country.”
The Minister noted that the Annual Flood Outlook has warned that there would be floodings, but that the report didn’t predict the intensity as being witnessed in the country this year.
“It’s been a terrible one,” he said. “Our hearts go to the victims of this flood. Basically the entire country has been affected.”