This is a typical chant in the days of yore whenever there comes the showers of rain most especially around the second quarter of the year. The mere anticipation of the rainy season gives rise to joy and jubilation to us children then because we look forward to playing out while the rain is coming down on us. But to our parents, it heralds the coming of the season of joy and happiness though for a different reason altogether – it signals the beginning of the planting season and the arrest of the destruction of the remaining harvest via rot and poor storage techniques and facilities – the season of wastefulness of the farm products via rot is put on hold because we can now put back those farm products back in the soil which we anticipate to give us another rich harvest.
But today, the rain is here again, evokes the memory of pain, destruction and disasters. For it is during this period that we experience the over flooding of our homes and farms by the rising water level of our various rivers and other water bodies which leads to the destruction of life and properties most especially among the inhabitants of the lowlands and those who dwell on the banks of the two great rivers of Nigeria such as the states of Benue Kogi, Niger, Kebbi and Taraba in the north and the states of Edo, Delta, Anambra, Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa as well as Akwa-Ibom in the south. Be that as it may, this has not been the case before now. For some time in the past, it was an acknowledged fact that flooding contributed to enormous increase in wealth and prosperity to various civilizations across the globe. It also brought about tremendous losses and untold sufferings to millions of people. According to the World Bank 2016 research report, Global flood record indicates that flooding is one of the most devastating natural disasters in the world. Flooding is an ancient and modern phenomenon with varying global impact. The capacity of water to become disastrous when ignored becomes a detrimental risk. This implies that once water level rises above its normal level it turns into flood.
Flooding statistics shows that almost all parts of the continents are victims with Asia experiencing 40%, America 25%, Africa 17%, Europe 14% and Oceania 7%. Flooding remains the most common of all environmental hazards worldwide.
Globally speaking, flooding affects more than 1.5 billion people annually, 318 000 die while 80 million are rendered homeless. These cross-continental catastrophes compelled nations to take drastic steps to address the phenomenon as exemplified by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that came out with a guideline on what, and how to do in the event of flooding. This guideline contains an interactive flood map containing information describing the different kinds of flooding and educational materials on national weather service to keep you aware of potentially dangerous flooding situations through alerts and warnings.
In Nigeria, the reverse seems to be the case. The problem of flooding in Nigeria has remained a recurring phenomenon. It appears that Little or nothing seems to have been done. The scars left behind by this disaster have remained in most cases.
It may not be out of place for one to start wondering whether it is a deliberate policy of the authorities concerned to pay lip service to the issue of flooding bedeviling us, or that, they derive some amount of benefits from this annual phenomenon that befalls the nation. Some may argue to the fact that it has become an annual ritual for state government to wait till the dying minute to start shouting about the impending flood even though the National environmental management authority(NEMA) has been shouting through the rooftop of the impending disaster waiting to happen – over flow of our rivers and other water bodies due to the expected rising of the water level as a consequent of the effect of climate change that may lead to excessive rainfall.
We will also acknowledge the fact that some state governments have risen to the occasion by doing something tangible in tackling the menace. A state like Kogi for instance, has made some tangible effort in controlling/containing the effect of flooding in Lokoja. It has erected a concrete barrier on the bank of the river Niger that prevents the river from overflowing its bank and hence mitigated the negative effect that would have arisen.
Significantly, risk of flooding is influenced by climatic changes due to the depletion of the ozone layer, deforestation and desertification. Other factors such as non-desilting of our various rivers and other waterways also contribute significantly to the problem of flooding.
READ ALSO:Â Column: Climate Action in Nigeria and Africa: Reconciling Economic Growth with Environmental Sustainability
Flooding in Nigeria is also aggravated by the weak implementation of planning policies, streams and channel obstruction due to development or expansion of cities, indiscriminate dumping of waste on water channels and other negative habits and human activities in flood plains.
Another major cause of the flooding in Nigeria could be traced to the damming of the rivers Benue and Niger by our fellow African countries. These dams are used to hold water for Agricultural and other useful purposes. Therefore, most of the flooding we experience occurs when this water held back in the various dams is released.
For this issue of over flooding to be substantially managed, there should be continuous public enlightenment of the paramount importance of a flood free environment. There should be a continuous desilting of our various water channels, drainages and gutters. Public relations driven strategic communication should be deployed in initiating robust synergy of the various key stakeholders such as the government, autonomous communities worst hit by flooding, all the traditional rulers of communities in the state, all local government authorities, all companies operating in the environment, Nigerian society of engineers, politicians and philanthropists. Public relations strategic sponsorship should drive the engagement of corporate bodies to assist in the infrastructural development to control floods in the state. PR driven advocacies should be deployed in the enactment of policy guidelines and proper enforcement of relevant acts for flood control.
The various state governments concerned should adopt innovative structures as was done by Imo Water Management Authority to replicate the example at University of Ife, Nigeria, that recycles water and the TVA model that manages water resources for industrial and agricultural development in the United States of America.
The role of the government in addressing the issues of over flooding can never be over emphasized. The government should put in place enabling laws and regulations and strengthen existing ones where one is already available to protect the environment, ensuring that they are fair and considerate to the needs of the affected communities impacted by flooding. Governments at both Federal and state level, should adopt initiatives and frameworks to protect vulnerable groups in the societies, making sure they have access to a clean and healthy environment. They should also support sustainable farming methods such as organic farming and agroforestry to prevent land degradation and improve food security in rural areas. Encourage the use of renewable energy, especially in rural areas, and hence impact positively on afforestation.
The government, businesses, and civil society organizations should work together to solve environmental problems. PPPs can provide funding, technical help, and community support. Businesses, the government, and communities can work together to desilt our waterways, restore forests and degraded lands. A partnership between the government and private companies can bring solar power to rural areas, reducing dependence on harmful energy sources which negatively impacts on our forest reserves.
Overall, attacking the issues of flooding in Nigeria requires coordinated approach from the government, businesses, and local communities. If we all play our part by putting in the required amount of effort, we can work toward a more environmentally fair society. Collective action is key to overcoming environmental challenges and ensuring a better future for all.