You are currently viewing Preparing for looming floods across Nigeria

Preparing for looming floods across Nigeria

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s flood prediction and the alarm by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment & Water Resources on the impending disaster next month in 28 states call for concern. OKWY IROEGBU–CHIKEZIE writes on efforts by the Federal and the states’ governments to tackle the perennial problem.

IT is a disaster waiting to happen. To avert the problem, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Director-General, Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd.)   wrote a ‘Save Our Soul’ (SOS) letters to some governors, informing them of the 275 local government areas, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), that are flood risk areas.

Also, he has started stock-piling food and non-food items as part of measures to cushion the effects of the impending floods across the country. He has unveiled a booklet on ‘Disaster Risk Management Implication of the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction.’

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) also warned of the imminent flooding. Its Director-General, Clement Nze, said: “The red alert points to imminent river flooding in Nigeria. Both the Kainji and Jebba dams have commenced spilling water downstream.

“This means that once the upper catchment of the basin gets flooded, Nigeria should be prepared to experience flooding incidents. This flood magnitude sighted in Niamey on August 23, 2020, is expected to arrive in Nigeria through Kebbi State around September 6, 2020.’’

Earlier, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello who is familair with such matters, having held the portfolio in previous administrations, had warned of the impending heavy rains between September and October.

Bello, at a news conference, said  the data provided by the Nigerian Hydrological Services (NHS), indicated that “June is usually the period of effective rainfall and the beginning of a new hydrological year, when the River Niger Basin which covers nine countries -Benin, Burkina Fasso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote-D’Voire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria overflows its banks.” He said July, August, September and October are also known as JOSA months, signifying heavy rainfall, flooding and flood disasters in most parts of the country.

He said the floods are often aggravated by the trans-boundary inflow of River Niger and Benue from outside the country before they empty into the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria, adding that the Ogun-Osun River Basin Management had released five million cubic litres of water last month and between eight and 10 million cubic litres this month.

He said 18 million cubic litres would be released in September while 23 million cubic litres would be released in October, saying to check flooding, the state government introduced pumping stations in flooded areas, such as Isheri North and its environs, Owode, and Agboyi Ketu.The technology was also deployed in Illuburin and Adeniji Adele on Lagos Island, he said.

Bello called on residents of Kosofe, Ajegunle, Owode Oniri, Agiliti and Ketu to be alert to the release of 18 million cubic metres at Oyan Dam next month and 23 cubic metres in October, saying they should move to safer locations.

The commissioner added that the state had stepped up campaigns by producing jingles using Nollywood artistes for testimonials on why residents should desist from dumping refuse in drainages and erecting structures on drainage channels.

He continued: “Lagos is working on over 222 secondary channels, of which over 80 per cent are almost completed and 46 primary channels receiving attention.

“I am assuring residents of areas like Aguda, Shomolu, Surulere, Oworonskoki and Idi Oro who are complaining of neglect that the government is working; clearing of canals usually start from lower stream before reaching all the adjourning areas such as LUTH, Idi Araba and Ishaga.

“It is important to note that for coastal city like Lagos, once it rains consistently for a minimum of eight hours, we are bound to have flash flood caused by increasing inability of high rise of the Lagoon which brought about a rise of the ocean water.

“This constant rain will automatically lock up  our drainages and until the water level goes down, the drainages will be unable to discharge.

“Once our drainages have been cleaned or dredged, we can always assure you that in a matter of hours all the water will quickly disappear after the rain stops and tide begins to go down in the lagoon.”

Bello, however, urged residents  who dump refuse in drainage depite  enlightenments on its dangers to desist or face sanctions.

He continued: “Many people still dump their refuse in tertiary channels in front of their homes when it rains. People still build on the right of way of our channels despite repeated warnings. My admonition to such people is that what goes around must come round; the refuse they dump in the drainage channels will block the passage of flood water and cause flooding, which may eventually cost their life.”

Bello reiterated the state’s commitment to life and property, and sought the people’s cooperation.

He stated that henceforth, failure to desist from clogging the drains and channels with carcasses of motor vehicles and electronic parts in Ladipo market and other wastes from markets in Oshodi, Mushin and other markets would be punished.

Bello said the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has stepped up its activities to clean the drains and ensure that wastes do not return to the roads or drainages.

In Ogun State, the government had ordered residents living along river channels to relocate to avoid the ravages of flood.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, who gave the order, said the government would pull down the houses of those who flouted the directive.

The downpour submerged buildings in Kuto, Isale-Igbein, Lanfewa, Amolaso, Ijeun-Titun, Ago-Ijesa, Abiola Way, Isale Abetu, Sokori, Igbore, Oke-Mosan, Isale Ake and Adigbe, among others.

He identified human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse on waterways as responsible for the flooding.

Lagos floods “As a government, we are going to take decisive steps to ensure that residents comply with environmental laws.

‘’We will ensure that corrections are made to forestall annual recurrence of this natural disaster. We have seen the extent of the damage done by the flooding. We will continue to dredge canals in the state to allow for free passage of water.

“The effect of human activities, that is building on waterways and indiscriminate dumping of refuse inside stream and rivers, are factors responsible for what we are seeing here. We can see the devastating effect that these have caused.”

But some residents who spoke to The Nation expressed apprehension on the September 6 date given  by the Nigerian Meterological Agency (NIMET) on the flooding in some border communities of the state. They recalled how they lost their life-savings in last year’s flooding in their communities.

A resident of Glory Estate ,Arepo in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Mrs Modupe   Adedoyin, said they had to relocate to safer places after losing their homes and belongings to the flood.

She regretted the position of the government and recalled how they were asked to come to Event Centre at OPIC in Kara area of the state to submit the inventory of their losses.

According to her, when they got there with the high expectation of finding succor to their near helpless position last year, to their amazement they met people sharing rice. She said: “Some of us lost houses, cars, electronics, chairs and other household items, but when we got to Kara we met some people sharing rice and our spirit just went damp. We couldn’t imagine that level of insensitivity by government. So, you can imagine our level of worry and desperation when heard of imminent flooding again this year. We are using this medium to appeal to government to do something urgent for residents, if not it would be double jeopardy with COVID-19 still around.”

Mrs Adedoyin recalled how her neigbour refunded his tenants their rent though they had stayed for over six months as a result of the loss they suffered.

Rogba Kunle, who lives in Magboro, another satellite town, recalled how he had to shore up the structural integrity of his house after the flooding by contracting an a civil engineer.

He said: “I am a landlord in Magboro but last year’s flooding dealt a heavy blow on my family as we had to relocate to my father -in-law’s house in Ogudu GRA. It was not a good experience the apparent insensitivity of government by asking residents to move to safer places is sad. It means that nothing has been done for a whole year by the government. Those of us that live in the border communities of Ogun State have not felt the impact of this government, we are totally neglected. To our mind it is as if we do not exist, the government seems to be paying attention only to the state capital. Our CDC’s are hoping that government will do the needful and save us from preventable losses this year.”

He recalled that his colleague who lived in Wawa was trapped in his house for over seven days  as a  result of the heavy flooding and could only go out by a boat. He recalled  that adults and children were swept away by the flood, especially a dealer in Arepo who reportedly lost his life to the flood.

Source: thenationonlineng.net