BEFORE THE FLOOD RETURNS- LAZ UDE EZE

By Laz Ude Eze

Last year was a year millions of Nigerians would not remember with fond memories. Apart from the air disasters and terrorists attacks that claimed the lives of hundreds of people, flood caused monumental havoc and destructions across the country. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 363 Nigerians died and 2.1million were displaced by flood between July and October, 2012. Less than 6 months after the devastating floods whose survivors are still counting their losses while full recuperation is yet to occur. Recent climatic developments call for genuine concern and immediate action. Kindly check out these excerpts from recent news reports:

“NO fewer than120 persons have been rendered homeless in Bomadi, Bomadi Local Government Area, Delta State following a heavy rainstorm that destroyed over 33 buildings in the area. The rain storm, which started at about 4 pm on Thursday, also destroyed 12 high tension electricity poles, throwing the area into darkness”. – Vanguard January 25, 2013.

“Rainstorm destroyed at least 200 houses and rendered over 5 000 homeless at Akwukwu-Igbo, headquarters of Oshimili North LGA of Delta State” – Vanguard March 4, 2013.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has predicted that several states in the country could be submerged this year as a result of heavy rainfall and flooding if adequate precautions are not taken. Similar warning was given the previous year but was ignored by many state governments. Although people dispute the scientific etiologic explanation of climate change, the devastating destructions caused by changing climatic conditions across the world in recent times are indisputable. Rain storm, hurricane, tornadoes, etc are natural disasters that can’t be controlled by man; however, the ability to predict it provides an opportunity for preparedness and mitigation of the possible unpleasant effects. There’s an Igbo saying that states, o bu osisi ga-anu na a ga-egbutu ya ma kwusie ike meaning that it’s a tree that would hear that it would be cut down and does nothing but remains where it is. Unfortunately, some of our leaders behave exactly like the tree in this proverbial saying.

Pleasantly, not all state governments stood like a tree. Lagos State government took some steps that saved the lives of thousands of people by relocating many who lived by the ocean banks. This was followed by massive campaign and dredging of canals. More so, anyone who knows Benin City very well would agree that it used to be a notorious place for flooding. A few years ago, there was near-total absence of drainages in the city which has minimal sloping plains. The construction of networks of drainages in the city prevented what would have been a gargantuan flood disaster. Then who says we can’t prevent a recurrence of the damages that occurred last year? The signs are already there as can be seen by the destructive rain storms in Delta State. NIMET has also named states that may be hit again by flood this year. But without such prediction, one would expect a responsible government to assume that a similar or worse flooding may occur and take preventive against possible destruction of lives and properties.

Furthermore, we should also learn from the disasters that occurred recently in other countries, Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy was more intense and caused more destruction in the United States that anyone could have imagined. Snowstorms in Northeastern part of the United States are the worst in the recent history of the country. The scorching heat of the sun has undoubtedly worsened in Lagos, Enugu and many parts of the country that hitherto don’t encounter such. In fact, science cannot perfectly predict what the climate has in stock. Like the Northeastern states of US, Lagos, Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta States and Cross River States are bounded by the Atlantic Ocean; so the government of those states should be prepared. Media reports suggest the Lagos State government have been sensitizing the people, clearing canals and drainages and demolition of structures along waterways. Those efforts are quite commendable. Hopefully, all other states that may not be doing so still have a few weeks before the rainy season begins. 

It’s high time our policymakers and public officers became proactive and not reactive. The national and state orientation agencies should be doing massive sensitization of the Nigerian people especially in all communities that were affected by flooding last year. One expects the national and state emergency management agencies to recruit and train adequate manpower and procure necessary equipment for quick intervention. The electronic and print media would need to beam more light on the preparatory measures being taken by government agencies and put pressure that can persuade some lethargic public officers to wake up and act. Community and religious leaders should sound the message. Every Nigerian also has a responsibility to obey environmental laws. It’s a goat that will be hearing the sound of a knife being sharpened to kill it and continues to feed on grass. We cannot afford to have a repeat of the disastrous flooding that occurred last year. It’s action time; all hands must be on deck. 

Tweet me @donlaz4u 

Laz Ude Eze, MB,BS (Ibadan) CBHE (World Bank Institute)

MPH/CGH Candidate 2013

University of Kentucky, USA 

Director of Commuinications & Advocacy, HAPPYNigeria 

www.happynigeria.org