A couple of days in the past, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, alerted Nigerians of impending flooding alongside the River Benue Basin.
According to the alert, the Cameroonian Government has plans to “open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River”.
Recall {that a} Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, was signed in 2016 between Nigeria and Cameroon concerning the discharge of water from the dam, by which Cameroon will at all times inform Nigeria earlier than it opens the gates to the dam.
In a letter addressed to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cameroonian authorities warned of its intention to launch water from the Lagdo dam and requested the company to take precautionary measures.
After the notification, Media Talk Africa learnt the Ministry of Foreign Affairs additionally responded and served a discover on NEMA.
Over the years, the huge flooding in lots of states throughout the nation was attributed to the discharge of water from the Lagdo Dam.
Media Talk Africa reviews that the dam positioned alongside River Benue within the Republic of Cameroon has a historical past of over-flooding some Nigerian states alongside its navigation methods. These states embody Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.
However, in 2019, the dam was opened with out prior notification, leading to flooding in Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, and the Niger Delta areas throughout October and November of that 12 months. There was additionally flood devastation in 2022, resulting in the lack of lives and properties value billions of naira.
NEMA had just lately disclosed in its report that the 2022 flood disaster claimed no fewer than 665 lives, whereas 2,437,411 and 4,476,867 individuals have been displaced and affected, respectively.
The company additionally introduced, “As of August 9, data collated regarding 2023 flooding so far showed that 10 States have been affected, while 33,983 and 7,353 persons were affected and displaced, respectively.
“The breakdown also showed that 75 persons were injured while five deaths were recorded, including 1,679 damaged houses and 866 hectares of damaged farmlands.”
Reacting to the event, NEMA mentioned the discover will not be new, noting that it had since knowledgeable state governors of impending floods, together with that from the Lagdo Dam.
The company’s spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel mentioned it was time for the affected state governors to take motion and safe lives and properties in collaboration with NEMA.
Ezekiel assured Nigerians that NEMA was working with vital stakeholders, together with federal, state and native governments to make sure that the discharge didn’t trigger adverse impacts, asking Nigerians to not concern the opening of the Lagdo Dam.
“Information available from the flow level of River Benue at Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) gauging station in Makurdi stood at 8.97 meters as of August 25, compared to 8.80 meters on the same date in 2022.
“In contrast, NIHSA has also provided that the flow level of the River Niger system, specifically at Niamey, Niger Republic, remains stable at a normal level of 4.30 meters.
“Similarly, inland dams, including Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro, reported consistent flow regimes.
“With regards to the hydrological station downstream, the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers in Lokoja, Kogi are currently within normal limits,” he mentioned.
However, the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, has restated the state authorities’s preparedness to sort out any doable emergency from the upcoming flood.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed that the state authorities had offered LASEMA with 144 items of services that would accommodate 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, within the occasion of any emergency.
He famous that Lagos was properly ready, as LASEMA has modified from administration to holistic emergency administration.
“We have carried out risk analyses, resource mappings, and opened directories in each council to know the vulnerable people in emergencies. All these measures are geared towards ensuring swift, prompt, and effective responses,” he mentioned.
In the identical vein, the Delta State authorities has additionally expressed its preparedness.
It mentioned it’s taking proactive steps to mitigate the impact of flooding within the state, saying it won’t hesitate to set up Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps within the occasion of extreme flooding.
“We are already opening drainages and demolishing illegal structures blocking the waterways,” a authorities official mentioned.
On his half, the president of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, additionally suggested the federal government to assemble flood management dams alongside the Rivers Niger and Benue to avert flooding which may happen from the opening of the Lagdo Dam.
Gidari-Wudil, in a press convention in Abuja on Monday, referred to as for the dredging of main rivers to scale back siltation and sedimentation.
He lamented that the suggestions by the committees set up by the federal government after the 2012 and 2022 flood disasters had not been applied.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Committee, set up by President Bola Tinubu, says it’ll implement varied insurance policies and rescue missions to mitigate the flood’s impacts from Lagdo Dam.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, who spoke at a briefing in Abuja on the occasion of the committee, urged the Governors’ Forum to step up actions by guaranteeing the instant evacuation of Nigerians from flood-prone communities to safer locations.
She said that the President had directed that every one related ministries meet to discover a answer to the flooding concern.
Speaking to Media Talk Africa in an interview, an environmental remediation skilled, Dr Moses Paul said that related stakeholders ought to prioritise the security and well-being of the affected inhabitants to mitigate the injury that the flood could trigger.
Paul, additionally the Convener of Free Nigeria Movement/YELL OUT Nigeria, believes that the President and state governors ought to collaborate with related stakeholders and allocate assets successfully to handle the scenario to forestall additional hurt.
According to him, the federal government must also enhance early warning methods for floods, which he mentioned may contain the set up of climate monitoring stations, flood forecasting fashions, and communication networks to supply well timed alerts to weak communities.
The environmental skilled additionally urged related stakeholders to make sure that psychosocial help companies, together with psychological well being help and counselling companies, could be obtainable for these affected by the flood.
“The number one priority of government and leadership anywhere in the world is the focus in ensuring a rapid and effective response, particularly anything that will bring to safety the life and property first and foremost of her citizens.
“Therefore, the major concerns and advice for the Nigerian President and state governors in such a scenario as we face today would include establishing effective communication channels, such as mobile alerts or community networks, to disseminate early warning messages and information to at-risk communities to help ensure timely preparedness and evacuation.
“Ensuring residents’ prompt and safe evacuation in the affected areas is crucial. This includes preparing and coordinating relief efforts to provide food, clean water, medical aid, and other essential supplies to flood victims.
“The long-term should include planning for rehabilitation and reconstruction to aid affected communities in their recovery.
“In addition, it is important to ensure that psychosocial support services are available for those affected by the flood, as many individuals may experience trauma, loss, or displacement. Mental health support and counselling services should be activated to help individuals cope with the emotional and psychological impact.
“Encouraging collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, is vital for effective disaster response. Coordinated efforts and the pooling of resources will enhance the overall response capacity.
“It is equally important for the Nigerian President and state governors, particularly those bordering the River Benue, to prioritise the safety and welfare of the affected population, work in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, and allocate resources effectively to manage the situation and prevent further harm by integrating climate change projections into long-term flood management strategies for riverine areas in the country.
“These can be achieved if the government can consider the following steps in addition:
“The government should assess the vulnerability of riverine areas to floods and the potential impacts of climate change. This assessment should consider factors such as population density, land use patterns, infrastructure, and socio-economic conditions.
“The government should incorporate climate change scenarios into its flood risk assessments, including projections of increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. This would help in understanding the potential future flood risks in riverine areas.
“Moreover, it is wise for the government to enforce strict regulations on land-use planning in flood-prone areas. This can involve restricting construction in high-risk zones and promoting sustainable land-use practices that minimise the exposure and vulnerability of communities to floods.
“Another aspect is to prioritise the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure in riverine areas. This can include building flood-resistant roads, bridges, and buildings and implementing nature-based solutions such as restoring wetlands and constructing floodplains.
“Aside from the above, the government should engage with local communities to raise awareness about climate change impacts and flood risks. This can include organising workshops, training programs, and public campaigns to educate communities on flood preparedness, early warning systems, and evacuation plans.
“In conclusion, the Nigerian government should collaborate with international organisations and partners to access technical expertise, funding, and knowledge-sharing platforms. This collaboration can help develop and implement effective flood management strategies based on climate change projections.
“By integrating climate change projections into long-term flood management strategies, the Nigerian government can enhance riverine areas’ resilience and minimise future floods’ impacts on communities and infrastructure,” he mentioned.
