This year’s rains have come with floods in some states of Nigeria. Last year was particularly bad as the rains submerged many towns and villages, displacing people, destroying farms and structures. It is feared that same calamity might befall Nigerians if necessary measures are not taken.
Abuja experienced its second rain of the year on March 1st 2019, with residents raising alarm over the damages caused by flooding. The downpour which started around 3:00am affected many residents of the Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe.
Many complained that the flood was caused by poor maintenance of waterways. Disposal of refuse in waterways has always caused blockage of the drainage resulting in flooding. Those affected called for proper waste disposal system before the rainy season fully sets in.
Another heavy rain wreaked havoc in Lagos and Ogun states on Monday 20 May 2019. The downpour which lasted for about two hours destroyed buildings and other properties. It was gathered that two buildings partially collapsed in Abule Egba and Ladipo areas of Lagos while roofs were blown off in Ayede area of Ogun state.
The Lagos state government in a statement jointly signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Fola Adeyemi stated that the rain was as a result of climate change.
It would also be recalled that a heavy rainfall caused havoc in Yola, Adamawa state capital on May 16 2019. This was the first major rain in the state capital and it led to flooding which displaced thousands of residents from their homes and destroyed properties. The rain lasted for nearly an hour. An angry resident blamed the government for not clearing the gutters and water channels that were blocked.
Looking at the way the rains have started this year, many are worried that this year too might roll by with calamitous floods.
On October 15 2018, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) released a report which showed that as at October 9, 2018, a total of 103 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 10 states in the country were impacted by severe flooding with an estimated 1.9 million people affected.
As of the time of the report by the agency, 561,442 people were internally displaced while 351,236 were in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. It was reported that areas located along the Niger and Benue rivers were the most affected by flooding.
Before the report by NEMA, government had earlier declared national disaster in five states of the country which were Adamawa, Taraba, Rivers, Kebbi, and Bayelsa, following a devastating flood that ravaged the states.
For this year however, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicted lower-than-normal rainfall over most parts of with late start of rains in the north. The agency also said the south-eastern zone and the coastal areas would experience normal onset of rains.
NiMET however warned, “It is necessary to state that the expected below normal-normal rainfall in parts of the country does not rule out the possibility of isolated flash floods. This will be due to high intensity rainfall at the peak of the season, especially in places that are naturally prone to flooding.”
Viewpoint Housing News demands that government agencies in whose hands the responsibility lies should act now. Apart form serving reminders and constantly passing weather information and reaching out to residents prone to rain disaster, adequate measures should she be taken to mitigate the impact of the coming rains.
Those living in areas likely to be flooded should be assisted to evacuate. Government needs to create more drainage, clear existing canals and residents should be sensitised on the need keep drainage free for water passage. Failure to do these is simply inviting a repeat of what happened last year.