The federal government has reviewed the National Erosion and Flood Control Policy (NEFCOP) to strengthen Nigeria’s framework for managing erosion, flooding, and related environmental challenges.
Mahmud Kambari, permanent secretary in the ministry of environment, announced the development during a national stakeholders’ validation workshop on the policy review held in Abuja.
The workshop was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, with support from the World Bank.
Kambari said the policy, first launched in 2005, had become outdated, necessitating a review to align with emerging realities and the increasing impacts of climate change.
“It is no longer news that environmental hazards have claimed lives, displaced thousands of people, destroyed farmlands, eroded critical infrastructure, and undermined socio-economic development,” he said.
“Erosion and flood challenges are not merely environmental issues; they are also developmental, social, and economic challenges.”