FG Warns Water Insecurity, Flooding Pose Threat to National Security.

The Federal Government has warned that water insecurity, flooding, drought and poor sanitation are emerging threats to Nigeria’s national security, with 1,249 communities across 176 local government areas in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory identified as high flood risk areas.

According to a report by The Guardian, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, gave the warning on Monday at the National Defence College in Abuja.

Speaking on “Water Resources Management and Sanitation as Catalysts for Sustainable National Development and Security in Nigeria,” Utsev called for water security to be formally integrated into the country’s national security architecture.

He said poor access to safe water and sanitation, flooding and drought could trigger public health emergencies, displacement, competition for resources, livelihood disruption and conflicts.

Utsev also stressed the importance of irrigation to food security, noting that about 154,000 hectares of irrigable land currently support more than 1.6 million farmers.

The Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, described flooding, drought and resource based conflicts as major security concerns, urging stronger management of Nigeria’s freshwater resources and greater international cooperation on shared water systems.