Flooding: Time For Reawakening Of Our Consciousness

Abiodun Martins Oke
Flooding disaster more frequently these days than ever before across the globe. Developing countries are particularly faced with devastating impact of flooding . This is arguably because of their lack of the bility to combat the menace.
Flooding remains the most common disaster in Nigeria, and it usually occurs during raining season. Its threats and frequency have increased over the years. Flood is among the most common natural disasters worldwide, affecting millions of people and causing significant damage to both human settlements and the environment. In 2012, Nigeria experienced its worst flooding record in recent history.

As our country experiences climate change and human activities continue to alter the landscape, understanding the main courses and effect of floods becomes crucial. Some of the principal causes of flooding in Nigeria are rapid urbanisation, poor spatial planning, heavy rains, dam and reservoir failure, poor waste management, channel obstruction, among others.
As floodwaters spread, they can threaten lives, destroy properties and businesses, destroy belongings, damage vital infrastructure and prevent access to essential public services.
Maiduguri and Jere local government areas of Borno State have been left in a devastating condition following the collapse of Alau Dam on 10th September 2024. The collapse of the dam led to flooding in the area and which has caused extensive damages to crops and farmlands, infrastructures, shelters and severely affected livelihood and displacing many residents. The incident has spackled reaction from both local and international organisations describing the incident as disheartening and environmental unfriendly.
Report from the National Emergency Management Agency said over 70 percent of the residents in Maiduguri were displaced and at least 30 people died. Similarly, the United Nations Refugee Agency in Nigeria described the incident as well he worst to hit the city in thirty years, affecting over one million people.
Often time, the effect of flood are long time and can be very costly, disruptive and distressing for communities involved.
Asides dam collapse and overflowing of rivers, poor waste management is another cause of flooding. Poor waste management is a major problem in cities. Many go around dumping refuse on the streets, water ways and rivers, some empty their waste when it rains. These on a long run amount to flooding in cities across Nigeria. Residents regularly dump their waste in gutters and this blocks the gutters and prevents the flow of water, causing the gutters to overflow. It is common to see flooded streets with litter floating around after a short period of rainfall.
Heavy downpour which mostly begins May is the major cause when it comes to flooding in most part of the country. This heavy downpour usually leads to overflowing of rivers and dams which on a long run amount to flooding mostly in river line states. River line state in Nigeria include Niger, Benue, Kogi, Lagos, Cross-River, Bayelsa, River States e.t.c.
The Federal Government through Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev earlier this year said no fewer than 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, had either experienced various degrees of flooding or recorded casualties as rains intensified.
Prof. Utsev explained that the annual Flood outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency released in April had predicted that 148 local government areas in 31states fell within the high flood risk areas. The affected states include Adamawa, Akwa ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross -River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi.
Others are Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.
At this point it is crucial to take precautions and preventive measures against flooding as we are into the second face of the raining season after a long break been experienced in many states of the federation.
It is high time for government, its agency and the general public to step up their action at reducing flooding to minimal in the country.
Citizens should desist from dumping refuse on the streets, gutters and rivers. Proper waste management must be strictly adhere to by all.
As cities develop, there comes a need for expansion. People who have formed the habit of constructing buildings and infrastructures on water ways which on the long run result to flooding should desist from such act in the interest of the society at large.
Government should emulate the brilliant River dredging step taken by the previous administrations. River dredging is aimed at expanding rivers capacity and reduce overflowing of water from the river.
Communication is a core of every human activities. It provides the people adequate information needed for their day to day activities. Information on issues that concern the people should be made available for people to access. Weather forecast and predictions should not only be made but proper awareness, sensitization and enlightenment must be put in place to inform and educate the masses.
Government at all levels should make provisions for people displaced as a result of flooding and other disasters.
Conclusively, flooding has resulted in economic and social losses. It also led to environmental degradation and overall environmental deterioration.
Do all you can to prevent flood in your environment.