The African Union and the European Union have initiated the Multi-scale Flood Monitoring and Assessment Services for West Africa to boost the capacity of disaster management organizations in Nigeria and other countries.

MiFMASS, one of the actions under the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa, is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of flood monitoring, assessment, and management in the continent by providing earth-observation services on a real-time basis to disaster management institutions and boosting their personnel capacity to adapt to their services

The Executive Director, Centre for Space Science and Technology Education Nigeria, Dr. Ganiy Agbaje, who stated this on Friday in Ibadan, Oyo State, noted that the services would be implemented by the centre.

Agbaje said that the model was aimed at using data from the satellite to monitor and manage the flood.

“We believe that we can handle it, using data from the satellite. And as much as possible, we are using data that are free and accessible to support other data to access and monitor flooding and to provide services to DMOs such as OYSEMA, NEMA, NIMET and help them build capacity in the end,” he said.

Agbaje further stated that the project, which had a lifespan of three years, would encourage proactive actions and lessen the economic loss experienced annually.

On his part, the Communication Consultant, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, Mr. Abiodun Adefioye, called for the support of media organizations.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of N800m for the rehabilitation of the victims of the disaster.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State disclosed this while addressing victims of flood at the Jama’are river on Saturday.

He said the funds were approved under the ecological project of the Federal Government.

Mohammed appealed to the Federal Government to look into the possibility of providing a dam in Jama’are under its Water Resources Strategy as parts of measures to avert the reoccurrence of flooding in the area.

I hope the 800m will be used based on the matter involved