The Need To Heed Early Warnings To Mitigate Flooding

The Need To Heed Early Warnings To Mitigate Flooding

There is no gainsaying the fact that flooding has been the most perennial natural disaster in the country.

Between two thousand and twelve and last year, Nigeria has experienced several flooding, both flash and severe, virtually every year.

The flood usually comes with devastating impact on the poor and vulnerable populations who live along river banks and courses, and depend on the productivity of the river ecosystem and the fertile floodplains for their livelihood.

The worst flood incidences were experienced in two thousand and twelve and two thousand and twenty two when hundreds of thousands of homes, public utilities and farmlands were destroyed with several lives lost.

According to the World Bank Global Rapid Post Disaster Damage Estimation Assessment, the total economic damage to residential and non- residential buildings, infrastructure, productive sector and farmlands from the 2023 floods was estimated at six point six-eight billion US dollars.

While the two thousand and twelve and two thousand and twenty two floods were caused by the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Camaroon, others were attributed to indiscriminate disposal of waste materials, especially on water ways, drainage channels and building on flood plains which made it difficult for free flow of water at the peak of rainfall in the country.

Sadly, the poor attitude of people towards their environment has continued unabated with attendant consequences on lives and property.

Several appeals from relevant government authorities for citizens to imbibe the culture of keeping their surroundings clean, desist from indiscriminate disposal of wastes, improve on personal hygiene and promote environmental sanitation activities has continued to fall on deaf ears.

Recently at the presentation of the 2024 flood outlook in Abuja by the Nigeria Hydrogical Services Agency, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, announced that parts of one hundred and forty eight local government areas in thirty one states of the Federation fall within the high flood risk areas.

He called for effective and strategic planning by State Governors and local government Chairmen to avert loss of lives and property through adequate coordinated and effective flood mitigation strategies and preparedness.

Professor Utsev named the high flood risk states as Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo and Jigawa.

Others are Kaduna, Kano,Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo,Plateau , Rivers, Sokoto,Taraba and Yobe.

Professor Utsev said the flood in these states which would start from this month to November was expected to be high in terms of impact on population, agriculture, livestock, infrastructure and environment.

Giving details into what will happen, the Minister said part of seventy two local governments across the country fall within the high flood risk areas in the month of April, May and June while part of one hundred and thirty four local governments in the month of July, August and September, and part of forty four local governments in the months of October and November.

Professor Utsev also warned that urban flooding will be experienced in city centres across the country including Abakaliki, Abeokuta, Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin- Kebbi, Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Onitsha, Oshogbo , Portharcourt, Sokoto, Warri and Yola .

It has therefore become imperative for all stakeholders including Governors of the thirty six states of the Federation, local government Chairmen, political and religious leaders to take this information seriously and act fast before it is too late.

There is also urgent need for massive sensitization of the citizens using English, pidgin and local languages as well as jingles on Radio stations and other forms of communication, on the need to de-silt all drainage channels, and canals, stop building on waterways and desist from disposing wastes in drainage channels.

States and local governments must relocate those whose houses are built on flood prone areas to higher grounds to avert the impending disaster.

It is commendable that the National Economic Council Ad-hoc Committee on Flood Mitigation, Adaptation, Preparedness and Response is developing a road map that will provide lasting solution to perennial flood disaster and the ongoing efforts to build more dams at the tributaries of River Benue to curtail excess water released from Lagdo dam in Cameroon that has continued to wreck havoc on the country.

However, emphasis should be for all stakeholders and the entire citizenry to collectively and sincerely support the Tinubu Administration to put an end to this disaster that has continued to ravage homes, farm lands and property thereby consuming lives of the citizens in the process.

By Terhemen Oraduen, Edited By Grace Namiji