The impending flood

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has alerted state governments of impending flooding this year. It also warned that as many as 626 Local Government Areas (LGAs) would be affected. It urged them to start sensitisation and mitigating efforts to prevent the looming disaster.

The Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, who raised the alarm, said the prediction was based on the 2023 Annual Flood Outlook which indicated that a total of 66 LGAs were at high flood risk in the months of April to June; 148 LGAs in July to September and 100 LGAs in the months of October and November. Not less than 41 LGAs fall within the moderate flood risk areas in the months of April to June; 199 LGAs in the months of July to September and 72 LGAs in the months of October and November.

The forecast indicates a high risk of coastal flooding due to expected rise in sea level and tidal surge that may negatively impact agriculture, human settlements and transportation in Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos and Rivers states. The agency says that flash and urban floods are also predicted over many cities and towns due to poor drainage systems and lack of compliance to town planning and environmental regulations.

The number of council areas to be affected by the flood is staggering and represents about 80 per cent of the 774 LGAs in the country. Therefore, we call on the federal and state governments to put measures in place to check the impending flooding. Flooding in Nigeria is a perennial problem, which comes with dire consequences.

Last year’s floods claimed 665 lives and left 3,181 persons injured. A total of 4,476,867 persons were affected; 2,437,411 persons displaced, about 944,989 farmlands damaged and 355,986 houses partially or totally destroyed by floods. In Jigawa State, more than 111 people were killed by the disaster. Similarly, 76 Nigerians were drowned in Ogbaru area of Anambra State when a boat ferrying them capsized.

Communities in the littoral states were the worst hit by the flood. About 27 out of the 36 states of the federation were affected, with Abuja threatened by the flood from Kogi State capital, Lokoja. The flooding in Nasarawa State affected one of the nation’s largest rice farms. The disaster apparently led to the scarcity and hike in price of rice. With predictions of heavier rainfalls this year, there are fears of more devastation. NEMA has already warned that apart from the possibility of the severe flooding washing away farms and causing destruction of livestock in the land, airplanes might skid off runways due to heavy rainfall.

Flooding in Nigeria has been caused by heavy rainfall, the release of water from Cameroon’s dam, inadequate preventive infrastructure and the unhealthy attitude of Nigerians to the environment. The warning by NEMA calls for more mitigating measures by the government to avert the impending disaster. Flood-prone states should put in place safety measures to safeguard life and property of the people. It is good that some states have announced precautionary measures to mitigate the impacts of the flood.

The Ogun State government has secured the campgrounds and hostels of some mega churches to serve as temporary accommodation for those likely to be displaced from their residences by flood. Lagos State has ensured that drains across the state are functional in order to prevent flooding. Niger and Kwara states have embarked on community-based sensitisation campaigns on the impacts of the impending floods. Other states should follow suit.

We urge Nigerians to take care of the environment. There is need to open water channels, desilt the drains to allow free flow of water. In extreme cases, residents of flood-prone regions should be relocated to safer areas. Dams can be constructed to divert flood water to other areas for agricultural purposes.

NEMA should not relent in advising and collaborating with the states on ways to tackle the flooding menace. We hope that returning the agency to the office of the Vice President will enhance its effectiveness in responding to emergency situations.