From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi; Tony John, Port Harcourt; Joe Effiong, Uyo; Noah Ebije, Kaduna; Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri and Lucky Ighomuaye, Benin
Last year, many Nigerian states were ravaged by flooding. Many communities were sacked as the flood ravaged homes and farmlands, leading to loss of lives and property worth billions of naira. Already, the Federal Government has warned that some states might face flooding this year. In this report, Nigerians suggest what the states and the Federal Government should do to mitigate the effects of flooding in 2023.
Develop flooding infrastructure – Hosanna Lawson, businesswoman
Investment should be made in flooding infrastructure, which includes building dams, sea walls, and tide gates as a physical barrier to prevent flooding. Government and individuals should put an end to nonchalant refuse disposal, rather dirt should only be disposed in recycle bins, and laws should be enforced to punish defaulters. For long-term measures, more trees should be planted, because one standout cause for flooding is deforestation, as such, afforestation fixes this.
Attention should be paid to drainages – Aniekeme Finbarr, professional speaker
Poor drainage system has been the number one cause of flooding in many states in Nigeria because there’s simply no other place for the water to go other than roads and into homes. For Nigeria to reduce flooding, there has to be better drainage system. Property built on water ways should be relocated. Otherwise, towns will be submerged with the increase in rainfall projected for 2023/24. The government needs to prevent or reduce the construction of houses in flood-prone areas. Also, states should launch massive campaigns on the desilting of gutters like it is currently done in Akwa Ibom State. Sanctions, fines, and punitive measures should be adopted for dumping of refuse into gutters and in public places.
FG should support evacuation of people living in riverbanks or flood-prone areas – Dr. Elizabeth Jeiyol, lecturer
The Federal Government has already received the early warning letter issued by the Cameroonian government, so what they can do is to disseminate the information, create awareness for the Nigerian public through the State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) in the 36 states and also support them to ensure that every community is aware of the impending danger, especially the flood-prone areas. They should also support evacuation of these people who are living on the riverbanks or flood-prone areas because most of these people who are living in those areas do not have the resources to live elsewhere, even if it is to have temporary shelters for them to stay when the flood comes. Beyond that, we have had flood year in year out and government should be ready to reach out to the flood victims to enable them cope with the situation.
FG, states should create awareness – Emmanuel Egbodo, social worker
The federal and state government should, first, create adequate awareness on the impending flood so that every community that is flood-prone, especially in Makurdi and those living in the riverine areas will know that flood is coming so they can relocate to safer areas and not be taken unawares. Many people don’t know if the flood is coming and when. I also think the federal government should prepare for response issues because when this happens, people become homeless and they would need to be assisted. So awareness creation and response would save Nigerians from the impending danger.
SEMA should get funds to set up camps for displaced persons ahead of time – Bemgba Iortyom, politician
While the flooding may not be averted as a result of swelling of the River Benue through waters from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue can take pre-emptive action through SEMA to mitigate losses of property and suffering on the people. Drawing from past experiences, the federal government and Alia’s government in particular, should issue directives for due diligence for funds appropriation through relevant organs of government, including the State Assembly, to enable SEMA set up camps for displaced persons ahead of time. Only timely action by Governor Alia in those communities identified as prone to the impending disaster will mitigate the losses and suffering it has potential to cause.
Permanent camps should be set up for displaced people – Paul Chimodo, ICT analyst
There should be synergy between states and federal government to plan how best to relocate flood victims. The federal government should find a permanent solution to the cause of the flood ravaging communities. Permanent camps should be set up as well as new strategies as to how the people being relocated can be empowered or carry on their livelihood while in camps. Finally, technology should be used to see how best food production can be done during flooding and still yield produce.
SEMA, FEMA should synergise on flood management and control – Enefaa Georgewill, activist
State governments should set up State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). We don’t have a functional SEMA, a state that suffered a serious flood disaster. Also, SEMA, on behalf of the state, should liaise with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), where the activities of both the federal and state governments concerning flood management and control are discussed. Very importantly, government should identify communities mostly impacted by flood, know their fears or challenges and, then, how to contain the challenges.
Government should dredge rivers, widen their depths – Emmanuel Nwabrije, politician
The truth remains that the federal government lacks the political will to tackle flooding, in the sense that the resources to mitigate incessant flood are in abundance. States are not also helping matters. If not, what is the rocket science there? I have lost everything I worked for via flood. All we need to do is simple. Government should dredge these rivers and widen the depths. Again, create artificial lakes. Water can be used for hydro to generate power. Nigeria had the money. Just a day sale at OPEC market provides solution for this problem in Nigeria.
Government should provide alternative shelters- Lapinni, social activist
The federal and state governments should provide alternative shelters for residents that are living in flood-prone areas across the country. The flooding incidence has become a great embarrassment to us as a people and it ought not to be so in this country. Both the federal and state governments need to enhance the channelization of our culverts, put in place robust awareness campaigns on how to respond to flooding incidence and also be prepared to provide a back up interim of providing relief materials. Government should quickly provide alternative living spaces for residents of areas prone to flooding. Funds should be set aside for people that may be displaced by the looming flood.
Govt should dredge waterways – Goodluck Ibem, activist
The Federal Government should immediately dredge our waterways, rivers and build high river pavements that will prevent flood from entering into peoples’ homes and farmlands. The government should activate, equip and empower all agencies responsible for handling emergency situations and natural hazards. They should not wait until when the flood comes before they start doing something. They must act now before it is too late.
Government should dredge big rivers – Kelly Osunbor, activist
The state and federal governments should collaborate and look for a permanent solution instead of running helter-skelter every season looking for a temporary measure to curb the issues of flooding in the country. Like what I monitored on the news that they can dredge some big rivers like the River Niger and the River Benue and build a Nigerian dam so that we can have these as a measure to curtail the excesses of flood.
There should be long term plans to tackle the menace – Peter Iyeke, veteran journalist
We must have a long time plan and to make sure that year in year out we are not running to where we left last year because the essence of going back to what we did last year is a waste and we should be making progress steadily. The states should use the Ecological Fund to manage natural disasters like flood.
FG should help flood-prone states – Lucky Eboh-Onokwe, public relations practitioner
The federal government should make funds available to the states that are prone to flooding to tackle it in case there is flood so that Nigerians will not experience what they experienced in 2022. The states and federal government should work together and plan ahead in order to address the issues of flooding, especially now that the Cameroonian government has alerted the Nigerian government that they are opening their dam very soon and when such happens, Nigerians will not be caught unaware.
Dredge rivers in flood-prone areas – Alfred Chikezie, politician
One of the ways both state and federal government can prevent flooding this year is to make sure that rivers in all areas prone to flooding are adequately dredged by construction experts.
