Nigeria must act now to mitigate flood disasters

As the rainy season looms ahead, a palpable sense of concern grips the nation.The recent cautionary message from the                      Federal Government to 31 state governors  regarding the looming threat of floods from April to November serves as a wake-up call, demanding swift and concerted action from both state and federal authorities.

Presented by Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Joseph Utsev, the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook paints a bleak picture, underscoring the urgent need for preemptive measures. It is not merely an emphasising advisory; it is a resounding call to arms.

The spectre of past flood calamities in Kano, Taraba, Lagos, and other states still haunts our collective memory.

The haunting images of devastated homes, displaced families, and shattered livelihoods serve as poignant reminders of the human toll exacted by our complacency.

It is imperative that we glean lessons from these tragedies and take proactive steps to forestall the impending catastrophe.

The warning issued by the Federal Government is crystal clear: floods are imminent, and the time to act is now.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s classification of 148 local government areas across 29 states, including Lagos, Kano, and Delta, as high flood-risk zones emphasising the gravity of the situation.

Every moment of inaction heightens the risk to countless lives and properties. State governors, local authorities, and relevant agencies must set aside differences and collaborate effectively to implement robust flood preparedness and mitigation measures.

From infrastructure reinforcement to early warning systems and community awareness campaigns, a comprehensive approach is imperative to safeguard vulnerable communities.

As responsible stewards of our nation’s welfare, we cannot afford to be caught off guard. Let us heed the warning, unite in purpose, and proactively address this looming threat.

The cost of inaction is too grave to contemplate, and the time to act decisively is now. This is not a drill.

The minister’s revelation that 31 states face high flood risks, while all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory will experience moderate flooding, demands immediate attention and collective action.

“The high flood-risk states are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe,” the Minister said.

We cannot afford to wait until the waters rise and lives are lost. The time to act is now. It’s imperative that federal and state governments, agencies, and local communities join forces to mitigate the impact of floods.

This requires a coordinated response, including public awareness campaigns, infrastructure upgrades, emergency preparedness plans, and investment in flood mitigation projects.

The future of our nation depends on it. Let us heed the warning and take proactive steps to build a more resilient Nigeria, where lives and properties are protected from the ravages of flooding. The clock is ticking; let us act now to avoid a catastrophe.

While 31 states face high flood risks, the remaining five states must also be proactive in their preparations. It’s not enough to simply warn residents to relocate from flood-prone areas; state governments must provide safe and conducive spaces for relocation, complete with essential services like relief materials, healthcare, and security.

This will help mitigate the trauma faced by displaced families. Citizens, too, have a critical role to play. They must be willing to relocate from their homes and comfort zones to prevent avoidable deaths and losses. The stark reality is that flood disasters are devastating, as seen in 2023 when 45 lives were lost, 171,545 persons displaced, and 22,666 homes partially damaged, with 5,358 others completely destroyed.

The economic toll was equally staggering, with a $4.6 billion bill that significantly dented Nigeria’s GDP. Let us learn from the past and take collective responsibility for flood preparedness. State and federal governments, agencies, and citizens must work together to build a more resilient nation, where lives and properties are protected from the ravages of flooding. The time to act is now.

In 2022, flooding claimed 662 citizens; 2.43 million others were displaced and 3,174 were injured nationwide, per NEMA.

The financial losses were estimated at $9.12 billion by the Federal Government, and by a United Nations agency at $7 billion. A UN report stated that food insecurity was aggravated in the country as 569,000 hectares of farmland were destroyed by the flood.

According to the then Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, 178 LGAs in 32 states were declared “highly probable flood risk states.”

Although climate change remains a global concern, leading to flash floods, droughts, forest fires, and cyclones, the government must not make excuses.

They need to take lessons from previous floodings and replace their nonchalance with strategic actions and campaigns. They must do all they can to avoid the repetition of losses of lives and properties.

The citizens must play their part by clearing drainage in their vicinity, cultivating good waste disposal and environmentally friendly culture. To entrench this, the government must place strict surveillance and enforce stiff penalties against erring residents.

State governments should demolish structures erected on flood paths to enable rainwater to drain appropriately.

NGOs in the environmental niche should activate campaigns distilled in local languages through the media to prepare citizens for the flood.

The federal and state governments should be proactive in the deployment of ecological funds to provide guardrails against natural disasters. This must be used for pre-emptive measures like building bridges, desilting rivers, evacuating canals and drainage, and building dams and levees. The dams would help preserve excess rainfall to irrigate farmland during the dry season.

The government must fully embrace its onerous duty to safeguard lives and properties.