Adopt Measures To Mitigate Flooding -NIHSA

State governments have been urged to promote awareness and evolve comprehensive mitigation strategies to reduce vulnerability to floods.

The Director Operational Hydrology of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) Mr. Femi Bejide made the the call while Featuring on “Perspective” a Kapital FM current Affairs program in Abuja.

Mr. Bejide stressed the need for disaster risk managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to prioritize preparedness and flood control efforts to safeguard lives and property and foster sustainable development through intensive public awareness and sensitization to the grassroots level.

Mr Bejide promised NIHSA’s continous readiness in providing necessary hydrological data to aid government agencies in flood management activities.

“Flood forecasting and early warnings were among the most effective risk management strategies to minimise the negative impact of flood” he added.

On her part, the Chairman of the FCT Institute of Town Planners, Mrs. Lami Ayuba, who said action has been taken by the institute in view of the just released 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction and the Annual Flood Outlook mitigate floods in the FCT.

“Series of campaigns have been on in the FCT on how to prepare and mitigate Floods” she emphasized.

She called for urgent measures to prevent flooding in the country noting that it was important to use reliable data to develop effective response strategies to flooding and other disasters.

“There is need for more collaboration among stakeholders in sensitising Nigerians to take proactive measures against flooding” Mrs Ayuba added.

In his contribution, the Former National President of the Nigerian Environmental Society, Dr. Uche Agbanusi called for sanctions for defaulters of environmental laws.

He added that erring residents, should face punishments to serve as deterrent to others who flout government directives.

Dr. Agbanusi frowned at the flagrant disobedience of environmental laws by some Nigerians.

“Any one involved in unhealthy practices, as well as those who pay deaf ears to government sensitization campaigns on the effects of dumping refuse in drains should be made to face the law because many lives were lost in the past as a result of flooding which was attributed to indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains and waterways,” Dr. Agbanusi stressed.

A caller on the programme, Mr. Anosike Ohuka from Gwagwalada called on the Abuja Environmental Protection Board to open up drainage channels in the area before the commencement of the rain.

By Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji