In light of the anticipated flooding this year, experts have suggested that the government take precautions to avoid calamities.
Sesan Odukoya, the National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers, urged the Federal Government to protect shorelines, dredge the Rivers Niger and Benue, build some dams along the corridor, and construct protection barriers and drains, among other things, to prevent a recurrence of the flood disasters that devastated many parts of the nation last year.
He urged states to adopt policies that would support efforts to protect lives and property, and he urged the FG to put expert suggestions into action.
In 2022, catastrophic floods caused the deaths of 662 people and the ruin of billions of naira’s worth of property.
Nigeria Meteorological Agency had predicted an early start of rainfall this year, which may cause flooding in many parts of the country.
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Odukoya stated that early measures were important given the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s predictions of heavy rainfall for 2023.
He said, “The Federal and State Governments should limit infrastructure provision along flood plains, to discourage people from purchasing land and settling in such areas. Also, both the Federal and State Governments should take action to discourage people from building on flood plains and use engineering solutions to avert flooding in areas already built up.
In the same vein, an environmentalist, Michael Semire, called the government to embark on said early warning publicity.
He said, “The Minister of Environment noted that it is caused by the tributaries that flow into the major Benue River, not essentially because of the overflow of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon as people posited. Hence, they should dredge the Benue River to be able to make the river flow better because when it does not flow well, it overflows its banks and flows into surrounding communities.
The environmentalist called for the construction of embankments that would serve as a means of flood control.
He also emphasized the significance of reducing carbon emissions that trigger climate disasters in the long run.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency decried the threat posed by flood in the Federal Capital Territory, which was expected to increase from the global impact of climate change.
Story adapted from Punch
