After the devastating flood in Maiduguri, Borno State, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Nimet) has issued a fresh warning of imminent flooding in some states of the federation with dire consequences if proactive measures are not urgently put in place to address it. In its latest alert, the weather agency listed states likely to be worst hit by flood to include Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Delta, Kogi and Rivers. The warning came on the heels of earlier alarm raised by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The agencies have advised residents in the flood-prone areas to brace up for it. Nimet in particular, advises residents to “ensure access to clean drinking water and stock up essential food supplies, as the upcoming floods in the weeks ahead may contaminate water sources and increase the risk of water-borne diseases.” Similarly, we advise the governments of the listed states to begin immediately to put necessary remedial measures that will mitigate the effects of the flood. This is the best time to think ahead and come up with strategies for checking the flood. It is unfortunate that every year Nigeria grapples with perennial flooding that leads to loss of lives, destruction of farms, houses and livelihoods. The annual flooding has affected the nation’s food security as well as the attainment of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The annual flood occurs largely because all tiers of government have not put adequate structures in place to forestall it. In most cases the weather agency’s warnings are not heeded. For example, a 2021 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that rising temperatures would affect the water cycle that would result in heavy flooding across many states. No doubt, Nigeria needs a comprehensive Plan of Action to check the annual flooding.
The frequent flooding can be traced to human factors. These include poor urban planning practices, blocked water channels, non-existent drainage system and inadequate environmental infrastructure. Many residential areas in some states do not have adequate drainage system. Some rely so much on natural drainage channels. Poor waste management system has also worsened the situation. It is based on the foregoing that we welcome the plan by the Lagos State government to ban single-use plastics with effect from January 2025. This includes Styrofoam plates and cups, cutlery and straws as well as plastic bags, and others that block the drainage. We also enjoin other states to adopt appropriate measures to address their peculiar environmental challenges.
It is time to begin proper planning and provision of necessary infrastructure to combat environmental challenges, including the yearly flooding. The ad hoc approach to the challenge does not help matters. In 2012, Nigeria experienced its worst flooding in decades, with total losses put at $17billion. The actual cost of flooding in the country cannot be ascertained due to poor records and inadequate reporting.
The Borno flood disaster should serve as a wake-up call on our political leaders to evolve measures to check flooding and other environmental challenges induced by the global climate change. The government should start building dams to check the annual flooding in the states that are prone to such disasters. They should also build camps where the victims will stay until the flooding is over. Government must always be prepared to provide relief materials to the victims of flood. The victims of flooding should be provided with enough food items and money to meet some of their needs.
Nigeria should emulate the United States (US) in handling flood disasters. President Joe Biden demonstrated leadership in handling the recent hurricane Helene that devastated North Carolina as well as the most current one, the hurricane Milton that ravaged the state of Florida. Biden had to cancel his already scheduled foreign visit to monitor the distribution of relief materials to the people.
Henceforth, Nigeria needs appropriate action plan to check flooding through relevant policy frameworks. This will also involve early warning system across the states to address the challenges of flooding in areas characterized by erratic rainfall patterns and complex river basins. The management of flood should receive priority attention and infrastructure support that will safeguard lives, and protect agriculture, especially at this time of acute food shortage and hikes in prices of essential commodities. Addressing Nigeria’s flooding challenge is crucial to the nation’s sustainable development.