The Director General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Clement Onyeaso Nze, says inadequate dam system is responsible for constant flooding in some parts of the country.
He said this in Abuja while interaticting with journalists on Sunday.
Nze said 400 dams are not adequate for a country like Nigeria, adding that dams have economic importance to the country.
He said flooding, which is seen as disaster, could be of great economic importance to the country if properly managed and channelled to the agricultural sector and hydropower plants creation.
“Nigeria is tremendously blessed with huge amount of both surface and ground water but the challenge has been the proper management of this resource and not until we see water as an economic resource, we will continue like this,” he said.
“Agriculturists will tell you that the nutrients capacity of the soil had highly improved and they experienced bumper harvest.We can convert this flood to economic benefits to our nation.
“We have been advising the state governments to find a way to construct diversion canals by the Rivers Niger and Benue and channel the water distance away and develop another city there. It cannot only be a means of flood reduction but can be used for agriculture and other businesses.”
