2022 October flood: Government must create a system to mitigate flood in 2023

By Wilson Adekumola

Flood has been part of Nigeria’s rainy season, the 2022 Nigeria flood was disastrous. The 2022 flooding in Nigeria is regarded as one of the country’s most severe flooding since 2012 as it affected all parts of the country.

Federal Government Data revealed that the floods displaced over 1.3 million people and killed over 603 people, injuring more than 2,400 persons. About 82,035 houses have been reportedly damaged and 332,327 hectares of land also affected.

On September 7, 2022, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) announced that its seasonal flood outlook for the year indicates that 32 states of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT) fall within highly probable flood risk area.

Two weeks later, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) declared that excess water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon would cause heavy flooding in 13 of the already affected states.

The states listed to be affected  include; Adamawa, Anambra, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Delta, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Rivers and Taraba.In a statement issue on Friday, October 21, 2022, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said the number of affected states increased to 34.

Government must make concerted efforts to create a system that will mitigate flood or curtail the effect of the flood on citizens before the commencement of rainy season in 2023 to avoid recurrence.

The flood which had affected 34 out of the 36 states in the country still kept many in a depressed mood.

The impacts were felt by many, those who had their houses close to canal were the worst hit. Uncontrolled and indiscriminate dumping of refuse to the canal were reportedly said to have contributed to the flood as the drainage systems were totally blocked.

As a result, two houses, one was located at Ibitoye Street, Off Wasiu Olaofe Road and the second one was at Wasiu Olaofe Road (formally Agric Road,), New Oko-Oba, Agege, Lagos, had been consequently demolished as the October flood that ravaged Lagos submerged them and sacked the tenants.

Lamenting the agony faced during the flood, Mrs. Esther Oluwabukande Ajao, resident, 14b, Elemide Adesina Street, Off Wasiu Olaofe Road, New Oko-oba, Agege, who was a victim of the flood, said, “It was not a good experience. On that fateful day, I was sleeping in my room when the incident happened. I saw water in my room and I decided to open the door but what I found was terrifying, flood had already occupied the entire house.

“I was confused at first, I was thinking I hadmade mistake by opening the door, I later noticed that the flood had already overwhelmed the whole street.

“It was my co-tenant that came to my rescue, my husband and the children were not at home, I was the only one in my apartment that day. It was a bad experience that I cannot even pray for my enemy to have.

“I have never experienced such for over four years that I had been staying in that house. It was the very first time such thing happened and it was just like a dream. I can’t quantify my loss but I thank God for his mercy.

“But my co-tenants and some houses in the street were not that lucky. They lost so many things worth millions of naira to the flood. I just thank God that it was not in the night. It could have been disastrous for us because it would have been difficult to move with the kids.”

She explained that Lagos State Government who visited the affected area through its physical planning ministry gave those living in the affected house 48 hours ultimatum to vacate the house and move to a safe environment but it took her almost a month before she could get another apartment due to financial constraint and rigorous activities in getting a new house.

She disclosed that her landlord who did not stay in the house but came to sympathise with them during the incident refunded her rent she had just renewed before the flood.

On why they were given 48 hours to vacate the house, she said, “I think the reason government asked us to leave was because of our own safety. It is the government responsibility to protect life and property. Government might have discovered that the building was not actually in a good location.

“The house is just few meters away from the canal that channels waterways  from Agbado, Ogun State, through Abattoir.

“So, when the directive was given we had to obey. It was not easy because it was an impromptu arrangement. We are the ones that bore the brunt not the landlord because he was not staying in the house.

“I would not know if government later visited the house after we left. I cannot say if the house has been demolished.”

She spoke further that she wants government to still compensate them noting that flood is a natural disaster that can happen to anyone without notice adding that they do not want to quantify their loss, “I will want government to support us especially my other co-tenants that lost most of their property during the flood.

“We thank God that we are alive but then government can still compensate us for the loss in terms of cash support. It was a natural disaster that we did not envisage it. Nobody prepared for it.”

She then implored government to look into flooding and come up with solutions to minimize its impact on citizens before the incoming rainy season.