The president delegated the authority for the declaration to the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Maihaja, following the major alert issued to states across the country of further incidents of flooding.
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to declare flooding a "national disaster".
There have been incidents of flooding across the country, which has caused the deaths of many persons and left thousands homeless.
According to NAN, the president delegated the authority for the declaration to the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Maihaja, following the major alert issued to states across the country of further incidents of flooding.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency had said Rivers Benue and Niger had almost reached levels that resulted in flooding in 2012, which led to loss of lives and destruction of property.
A letter to the declaration addressed to the Director of General of NEMA titled: 'Situation Report on the River Flood Along the Banks of Rivers Benue and Niger', which was signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, read: “Delegation of authority to the Director General of NEMA to activate the Disaster Response Units of the military for possible search and rescue missions, and the procurement and proportionate stocking of relief materials and health related items up to N3 billion to provide for the needs of possible victims.’’
The letter also instructed the NEMA DG to provide regular updates to the president.