A group of international Civil Society Organisations, under the aegis of ActionAid Nigeria, has called on the Federal and affected state governments to declare a state of emergency in view of the flood crisis across the country.
In a joint statement made available to the press on Thursday, the groups said it was time for government at all levels to find sustainable ways to curb the perennial floods and the resultant effects in affected states of the country.
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The group added that the floods situation also raised concerns that 19.4 million Nigerians across 21 states and the FCT could suffer a resultant food crisis as from August 2022, whilst the World Bank had also predicted 95.1 million people hitting the poverty line by the end of the year.
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The statement read in part, “With thirty-one States and the FCT affected by the flood, it is time for Government at all levels (federal, state and LGA) to explore sustainable ways to curb the perennial flooding that some states are increasingly experiencing during the rainy season.
A repeat of this in 2023 when households, farmers and States would still be in recovery process could be catastrophic as this would heighten pre-existing food insecurity, poverty and increase the number of out of school children, especially girls who in such circumstances suffer early and forced marriage and other forms of gender based violence.”
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