Going by the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA’s) projection, the flood ravaging the country may consume about one million persons this year. Several states are feeling the problem. They include Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Benue, Kogi, Enugu, Anambra, Delta, Oyo and Plateau, especiallyJos, which before now was the most unlikely place for flooding because it is mountainous. Due to climatic changes, floods have led to many deaths and loss of property as families and farm lands have been wiped away. However, experts have identified adaptation strategies that may help communities combat flooding, reports OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE
The floods ravaging many states have, again, brought to the fore the vulnerability of the nation to the effects of climate change.
The flood in Benue affected several communities in Makurdi along the river belt. Nine local government areas were affected in Kogi State, with Ibaji almost completely submerged.
The Nation learnt that inhabitants are taking refuge in neighbouring communities.
The other local government areas affected are Bassa, Ofu, Kogi, Omala, Ajaokuta, Ankpa, Igalamela and Lokoja, where choice property, including hotels, residential buildings, government offices and fishing communities along the confluence of Rivers Benue and Niger, were virtually submerged.
It is the same in Asaba, the Delta State capital, where communities and buildings were completely wiped out or submerged.
At a meeting with the Governor of Kogi State, NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr Charles Agbo, who led a team to the state, warned of prolonged flooding as more water would still be released from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and Kainji Dam with intensifying rains.
He urged the government to enforce the standard regulation on urban planning and development, as well as relocating communities on the flood plains as a panacea to the problem.
Agbo warned that even after the floods, most submerged houses may become too weak and no longer safe for habitation, adding that the situation poses potential health hazards .
He urged the states to support the affected communities, in addition to what the Federal Government, through NEMA would provide for the displaced persons. He called for the evacuation of persons living along the River Niger plains as the dam would attain their highest water levels in 29 years.
He said residents of the communities should move to higher grounds for safety. Agbo listed the states at risk as Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Anambra and Delta, urging that the states should ensure compliance with the order to avert loss of additional lives and property that would certainly arise in the event of flooding.
Climate Change
Cimate change is becoming clearer to most Nigerians as they witness the changes in weather formation.
The issue on the front burner now is how to help people adapt to the consequences of the harsh weather conditions. Scientists are asking governments across the world to help people build resilience to fight the effects of climate change. The idea now is to create a culture of risk identification, reduction, preparedness and mitigation to combat losses.
While countries, such as Japan and others have responded by building floating houses as adaptation model to withstand the challenge of earthquakes, several developing nations are yet to do anything to adapt to the challenges of flooding.
A Director with African Adaptation Programme (AAP), an organ of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Climate Change, Samuel Adejumo, said the government should, as a matter of urgency, help the public build resilience to massive flooding and its attendant challenges, which are the off-shoot of climate change. He urged that development models be tailored in such a way that it becomes immune to threats of climatic changes, saying the development models should include housing models, water and sanitation as well as culture.
An environmentalist, Mr Chukwuma Iloh, argued that adaptation models to check flooding should, as a matter of urgency, include strict adherence to town planning laws and building regulations. He said people seemed not to have respect for physical planning and environmental laws as they get away with errecting buildings on drainage channels and water berths.
He berated governments at all levels for low implementation of physical planning laws which exacerbate flooding recorded in states as drains are silted and blocked, making it impossible for the smooth flow of water. He encouraged the opening up of drainage channels and maintenance of same.
Iloh regretted that instead of development based on town planning regulations, people build haphazardly against every norm of decent living.
An architect, Mr Taiwo Ola, also urged that the government should encourage researches on building materials that are resilient to strong winds and the changing weather patterns, adding that people should be enlightened to know the implications of wrong disposal of waste and its consequences with the increasing incidence of climate change.
He made a case for effective waste collection, disposal and management to keep the drainages free of filth to aid the free-flow of water in case of heavy rains to check flooding.
He also encouraged government to do more for the environment through advocacy to key stakeholders on the need to preserve the environment.
Ola criticised those who throw used nylons and packages from their cars and homes indiscriminately, calling for a stricter law for offenders to check the abuse on the environment.
He said the panacea against devastating flooding, remains strong resilience and adaptation skills to help people manage the situation which no doubt will come due to the changing weather patterns.
He enjoined the government to work assiduously to reduce the projected one million deaths through flooding this year.
