Buhari orders Minister to produce masterplan against floods within 90 days

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Water Resources to lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Environment and Transportation as well as State Governments to develop a Comprehensive Plan of Action for Preventing Flood Disaster in Nigeria.

Buhari’s directive, which was conveyed to the Minister in a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, said the plan should be presented to him in 90 days.

A terse statement by Garba Shehu on Monday broke the information to reporters in Abuja.

It added that President Buhari is regularly receiving updates on the flooding situation in the country and restates his commitment towards addressing the challenges caused by the disaster in the country.

It is not clear whether the President’s directive is in reactions to criticism from some Nigerians who have accused the Federal Government of paying lip service to the flooding challenges.

A recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) over the weekend had put over 1.5 million children at risk of dropping out of schools and facing imminent health challenges owing to the flood situation which has reportedly affected 34 states out of 36 in Nigeria.