Group urges Nigerian government to build infrastructures to manage floods

Nigerian Government at all levels have been called upon to collaborate with stakeholders to build infrastructures needed to regulate and manage floods and to provide the needed support to floods victims.

The Executive Director, African Youth Growth Foundation, a Non- Governmental Organization, (NGO), Dr. Arome Salifu, made the call at a press conference on the recent flooding in Nigeria.

“Government should put in place adequate early warning and response system through better weather monitoring and build institutional capacity to evacuate and respond to such major emergencies including swift and timely evacuation.

“Government should follow up duly on the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon as that was one of the major causes of the overflowing banks and make plans to locate and construct a similar dam in Nigeria to regulate and manage the flood while taking advantage of the agricultural, industrial and technological opportunities and advantages that could come with such landmark hydro infrastructure.

“Government should build and fortify good drainage systems in the affected states while urging the people to take responsibility for protecting their environment by maintaining the drainage channels and be informed that the drainage systems are not for refuse dumps or building of houses.”

While noting the impact of climate change alongside flooding in the society and many other parts of the world, Dr. Salifu lamented the plights of flood victims which left millions displaced causing loss of means of livelihood as well as affected many socio economic engagements and deaths.

“Flooding in many parts of the world in recent times has led to several deaths, millions displaced, infrastructures and farms washed away, bringing to a total stop of daily living routines of the people including stopping education, jobs and many socio-economic engagements.

“It is disheartening that communities across 33 out of the 36 States including FCT in Nigeria have been systematically cut off from each other because of the unfortunate flooding that took place in these States between September and October 2022.

 “Over 160 communities in Kogi State and 300 communities in Bayelsa State were submerged, a land space cannot be sited in most communities in Delta State all of these have resulted in a number of deaths and the displacement of over 2.5 million people in IDP camps, huge rise in the number of reported cholera cases, malaria and other waterborne diseases according to UNICEF.

 “The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also affirms over 7,750 recorded cholera cases across 31 out of 35 States in Nigeria and still counting with the likelihood of many deaths in days and weeks to come if no significant response,”he said.

The Executive Director, Africa Youth Growth Foundation, Dr. Arome Salifu, who hinted that his organization was working with some state governments and humanitarian institutions to provide immediate relief materials and trauma management services to victims of flood in some of the affected states, emphasized on the need for a holistic approach to salvage the situation and avoid further occurrence.