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Nigeria to respond to future flooding: minister

Xinhua, May 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Mechanisms to respond to future incidence of flooding in Nigeria have been put in place, Minister of Environment Amina Mohammed has said.

Mohammed told a news forum in Abuja, the country's capital city that the 2012 flood caused a lot of damage because of lack of preparation.

The 2012 floods killed 363 people and displaced over 2.1 million people, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

At least 30 of Nigeria's 36 states were affected by the floods.

The minister warned that the incidences of flooding erosion, drought and the likes might continue as they were the realities of climate change.

Mohammed told reporters that the government alone should not be saddled with the responsibility for preparations as the state and local governments had roles to play.

On erosion, Mohammed said the government was already collaborating with the World Bank to address the menace in 17 states in the country.

She added that this was to holistically and systematically address the issues of land use and watershed management which causes of erosion.

The minister pledged the government's commitment to end open defecation by 2019 to create a healthy environment. Endit