The ongoing flood tragedy in Maiduguri, Borno State, is a sad reminder that more efforts need to be put in place to minimize the risk of the natural disaster. A wake-up call for governments at all levels to do all that they can to mitigate the occurrence.
Residents of the Northeast state are deeply traumatized because of the deaths, displacement, and destruction caused by the flood. A record of 30 deaths, 414,000 displaced persons, and 23,000 households are affected according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
It has been reported that about 70 percent of the city had been submerged. Contrary to some reports that Alau Dam, a 112 million metre cube reservoir in Konduga Local Government Area, collapsed and overflowed its banks, causing the floods, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev attributed it to climate change and unusually heavy rainfall. He clarified that the dam itself is intact, but massive inflows from the Ngadda River, a major tributary of the River Yedzaram, overwhelmed the dam’s dyke.
Whatever the actual cause is, it is one of the worst flooding cases in the state and we sympathize with the government and people of Borno and pray that they heal faster. We also call for more goodwill intervention from well meaning Nigerians like business magnate Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former Borno State Governor Ali Sheriff who have both donated huge amount of money to help the victims.
Aside Maiduguri, some states are also suffering the devastating effect of flood. In parts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, torrential rainfall has caused many residents to be homeless. The incident is a signal of what to expect in the coming days and weeks.
Bayelsa like other Niger Delta States is usually the worst hit because of the deltaic nature of state. The effect of the 2012 and 2022 is still fresh in the minds of the people. It will be a horrible experience should it happen again.
The governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, recently called on the Federal Government to respond to the flooding menace in the country by building dams and dredging the rivers. He said the major river channels had become shallow and required dredging to enable them increase the volume of water received.
Diri is right and the federal government should take the advice seriously. It is also important that proper IDP camps are built to accommodate victims of flood. The habit of waiting until it happens before a makeshift shelter is arranged causes panic and leads to stampede.
It is also important that a separate agency for flood management and control be set up. The agency will be saddle with the responsibility to effectively manage flood situation and victims. Governments at all level should collaborate with the organized private sector to fund the special purpose agency. No one needs to be told that NEMA is always overwhelmed with cases of flood and other disasters. So, they need a complementary assistance from another independent agency.
The government must also ensure that metrological and relevant emergency agencies are equipped with manpower, training, and technology to effect monitor the volume of water, provide accurate predictions, and deploy international best practices to curtail the harsh effects of climate change.
We also call on Nigerians to take seriously flood predictions and take personal steps to prepare for it. We have lost too many lives to what could have been avoidable. Yes, flood is a natural disaster but it can be contained to the point that its effect is not as colossal as we have seen.
