Despite the annual warnings by weather experts against flooding, it is disturbing that many states in the country still suffer from its dire consequences. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had earlier warned some flood-prone states of the impending floods and how they would mitigate its effects and avert loss of lives.
In August 2022, the Director-General of NiMET, Prof. Mansur Matazu, raised the alarm over heavy flooding in parts of Kaduna, Borno, Delta and Bayelsa states between September and October. He also predicted normal rainfall in states such as Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Bauchi and others.
No fewer than 25 people were killed, 58 injured and 130, 000 displaced in Adamawa State following a heavy rainfall and the release of water from the Lagdo Hydro Power Dam in Cameroon.
According to the Executive Chairman of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Suleiman Muhammad, the flood ravaged 18 local government areas and would likely cause food insecurity in the state. Similarly, about 200 people were displaced in some parts of Pilgani, Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State by flood.
In Makurdi, Benue State, hundreds of residents reportedly fled their homes due to rising water levels of River Benue. Schools, hotels, markets and shops were affected by the flood. Also, 14 persons lost their lives to flooding in some communities in Niger State. The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ahmed Inga, the affected communities included Magama, Kontagora, Agwara, Rafi, Lavun, Boso and Paikoro areas.
The recurring incidents of flooding across the country must have informed the recent call on state governments by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to relocate communities that are prone to witness heavy floods on account of normal rains and waters from Rivers Niger and Benue.
The directive was issued by the Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, during a critical technical meeting to review the situation and map out plans for emergency responders. The release of water from the Lagdo Dam since September 13, according to Ahmed, might likely affect the frontline states and communities along the banks of Rivers Niger and Benue. The frontline states include: Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi and Kogi. The rest are Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa.
NIHSA has pointed out that water from the Lagdo Dam will worsen the situation as Nigeria’s inland reservoirs, especially Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro will overflow between now and October. So far, about 29 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and 500,000 persons have been affected by heavy flooding. Available information from NEMA shows that over 300 lives have been lost and 500 persons seriously injured and more than 100,000 persons displaced. This is an indication that we have not done enough to curb the menace.
Now that flooding is being experienced in many parts of the country, we call on the affected state governments to swing into action and save those living in the affected areas, their houses and livelihoods. Since flooding occurs annually and early warnings are given by the weather agencies, there must be concrete plans to lessen its effects. Let all tiers of government take proactive measures to protect the environment and prevent the incessant annual flooding. With adequate management of our riverbanks and drainage systems, the incidence of flooding can be highly reduced. The dumping of refuse in canals in Lagos and other states may have worsened the annual flooding in these states.
Lagos State should pay more attention to the management of the environment, especially in ensuring that all clogged water canals and drainages are cleaned regularly. The protection of the environment through aggressive tree planting campaigns must be encouraged in all the 36 states of the federation and the 774 local government areas. This will reduce desert encroachment in the north and soil erosion in the south. The abuse of the environment by human beings has led to ozone layer depletion, the attendant climate change and its consequences.
Erosion, which is now threatening Anambra, Imo and other states in the South-East region, can be prevented through intensive tree planting and adequate management of the environment. Recently, Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State urged the Federal Government and development partners to rescue the state from erosion and other ecological problems that have threatened between 30 to 40 per cent of its land mass. Going forward, there should be sustained action against environmental degradation in all states and local government areas.