Despite early warnings by NiMet, the agency saddled with the mandate to educate the public on weather and climate related issues, disasters often occasioned by floods, after rains occur almost every year. Against this backdrop, John Nwokocha writes on the havocs wrecked by floods, mainly due to negligence to the agency’s cautions.
NiMET prediction
Recently, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet, predicted thunderstorms and rains for three days across the country.
The NiMet‘s weather outlook predicted morning thunderstorms over parts of Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Taraba and Adamawa states.
As the agency puts it: “While afternoon/evening thunderstorms are expected over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.
It warns, “Thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Benue and Niger states in the North Central in the morning. Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue states.”
The agency went further and forecast thunderstorms with rains over the entire region during the afternoon and evening hours.
NiMet said, morning rains are expected over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Ogun, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers states in the southern region.
Also, it anticipated high prospects of continuous rains for Lagos which might lead to flooding.
It predicted morning thunderstorms over parts of Kano, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states with thunderstorms over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Jigawa states later in the day.
It stated, “Thunderstorms are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kwara, Kogi and Niger states in the North Central in the morning. Later in the day, thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Nasarawa, Plateau and Benue states.
It stated, “Morning thunderstorms with rains are expected over parts of Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Lagos, Delta, Abia, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in the southern region.
“Rains are expected over the entire region during the afternoon and evening hours“.
Not done, NiMet predicted morning thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states on Friday while thunderstorms are expected over the entire region later in the day.
In the same vein, it anticipated a partly cloudy atmosphere in the morning over the North Central region with thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Benue and Kogi states later in the day.
The weather agency continues, “Morning rains are expected over parts of Lagos, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states in the southern region.
“In the afternoon/evening hours, rains are expected over the entire region during the afternoon/evening hours”.
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precautions as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
It further urged the public to take note and take safety precautions in places where continuous rains were expected, flood incidences might occur.
NiMet also advised Airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from the agency for effective planning in their operations.
The weather forecasts sound terrifying. And it speaks to impending doom unless steps are taken to avert it.
That NiMet’s forecasts are call for action cannot be overemphasized. But despite repeated warnings the floods occurred and like the great deluge leaves blood, tears and sorrow in its trail.
Over the past decades NiMet has been issuing out forecasts about the climate or simply, weather to alert all and sundry so that they are not caught unaware about the disasters.
Unfortunately, the agency’s efforts appear to have no significant impacts in the scheme of things.
Policymakers and development planners around decision corridors have shown little regards for the agency’s efforts to avert disasters. The public has been left with the impression that NiMet’s forecasts have little relevance.
However, in reality, flood poses a great threat to everybody. Flood can cause heavy financial losses to the nation, individuals, producers, suppliers, and consumers of food production which could reduce individuals’ capacity to afford food in communities. It is necessary to state that flooding has become a serious and very devastating environmental problem in the country.
From the look of it NiMet’s predictions now seem to be mere annual rituals, as floods continue to wreak havoc nearly in all parts of the country.
Consequently, hundreds of thousands are victims of the floods year on year. A recent data shows that more than 2.3 million people were displaced, and 16 million people were negatively impacted as of 2020.
It is even worrisome that the disasters accompanying the floods happen almost immediately after the agency’s warnings.
This time around the floods have compounded the woes of many Nigerians who struggling to survive the current economic hardship in the country.
Flood Sweeps Away Mother and Child in Anambra
On Saturday, July 20, flood swept away four people in Anambra state.
The victims included a woman and her child who were said to be returning from a church service that faithful evening when the incident occurred.
The flood happened at different locations in the Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State during a downpour that started late on Thursday.
The entire community was in disarray as the downpour continued till Friday and Saturday and generated heavy floods.
The mother and child were initially declared missing, among other families.
The community reportedly launched a search for the missing victims.
Said a resident, “At the moment, family members of the victims have launched a search for their loved ones who have not been seen since Thursday.
The state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, while reacting to the incident said an investigation would be launched concerning the development.
NEMA predicts flooding in 9 LGAs in Benue
In Benue state many families have been displaced and rendered homeless because of floods. Benue is prone to floods. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has predicted flooding in nine Local Government Areas in Benue.
NEMA Director-General Mrs Zubaida Umar disclosed this in Makurdi during the Downscaling of Flood Early Warning Strategies for Early Actions in the State.
She said that the three LGAs of Bururku, Makurdi, and Guma would be the most hit.
She said the flood may have impact on 31 states in the country, with 148 LGAs being predicted to be within the high-risk areas.
She stated that 35 states, including FCT, with 249 LGAs, are considered to fall within the moderate flood risk areas, while the remaining 377 LGAs are forecasted as low flood risk areas.
“NEMA’s records of flood incidents in Benue show that the state has been severely impacted by floods, but for the 2024 rainy season, some Local government areas in the state are still predicted to be affected by flooding.
“These LGAs, which are under high and moderate flood risk areas, include Buruku, Makurdi, Guma, Agatu, Tarka, Gwer West, Logo, Kwande, and Katsina-Ala.
“They are already listed in the earlier NEMA communication to the Government of Benue.
“This underscores this flag-off in the state today. Accordingly, I call for support in this initiative of downscaling flood early warning and risk mitigation messages to the grassroots,” she said.
The DG explained that these flood risk areas were presented with their degree of vulnerability to serve as a tool for governments at all levels to develop risk reduction measures to avert disaster during the rainy season.
She urged Nigerians to take actions that would drastically reduce the adverse impacts of floods on the entire landscape and the population, especially for most vulnerable persons living in communities identified as being at risk of flooding.
“We must work together to safeguard communities at risk, protect critical infrastructure, and support uninterrupted socio-economic activities in the state.
“It is my hope that today’s event will go a long way in reducing the impact of the annually recurring floods and to safeguard the private, communal, and livelihoods of the people of the state,” she said.
SEMA Urges Benue Residents to Prepare for Flooding
Against the backdrop of the flood alerts, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has called on residents to prepare for flooding later this year.
The Acting Executive Secretary of SEMA, Sir James lorpuu, made the call during the monthly distribution of food and non-food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the state.
He said, “I would like to acknowledge the recent flood alert issued by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), which predicts Benue State as one of the high-risk areas for flooding this year. This forecast serves as a critical reminder of the challenges our people will face in the coming days”.
Iorpuu called on indigenes to remain vigilant, including stakeholders, and government agencies and the international community, to continue collaborating closely to bring durable solutions to the yearly occurrence of floods in our communities.
Aftermath of Lagos Rain
Last week, for three days Lagos metropolis was flooded following a heavy down pour. The entire Lagos metropolis was literally submerged under the rippling floods. The Aftermath of the rain was reflected in chaos, lamentations and voices of despair all over the city till date. Why? Many residents whose houses were submerged in flood were seen bailing out storm water from their apartments.
Some commuters, who braved the rain by venturing out soon, found themselves stranded at flooded bus stops.
Also, many daring motorists had sad tales to tell as their vehicles broke down in the flooded highways in different parts of the city.
Lagos govt reacts
Reacting to yesterday’s downpour, the Lagos State Government called for calm from residents over the flash flood, saying despite the severity of the situation, there was no cause for alarm.
Wahab, in a statement, explained that Lagos has experienced about nine hours of non-stop rainfall since the early hours of Wednesday, coupled with heavy rainfall which the state has been experiencing daily since last week resulting in a rise in the level of the Lagos lagoon.
He said: “Lagos is a coastal city with almost one-third of its landmass underwater, as such necessitating a genuine reason for every resident to be more responsive to the state of the environment.
“The state government on its part has embarked on a-year-long maintenance and cleaning of all its secondary and primary collectors to be able to contain runoffs that may come from heavy rainfalls.
Residents on their part are expected to regularly clean and maintain the tertiary drains in front of their tenements and refrain from dumping refuse in the drains for the collective good of everyone.”
On the flood experienced around the Falomo area, Wahab said: “The contractors have deployed, and mobilized men to the blocked outlets to allow for seamless movement of stormwater.”
In Sokoto Floods Rendered 1700 Homeless
On Monday, July 22, in Sokoto, in the north west of Nigeria a heavy rain had left in its trail houses, farms submerged. Several communities in Gada and Dange-Shuni LGAs were displaced by the floods.
The Director Relief and Rehabilitation in the State Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Umar, who confirmed the development to journalists said over 1,700 people were affected in Gada LGA with 600 hectares of farmlands submerged.
In addition, Umar said that many livestock and foodstuffs were lost. The communities affected include Dantudu, Balakozo, Gidan-Tudu, and Tsitse.
The impact assessment of the flood was ongoing according to the director.
He said, they were still assessing the situation in Dange Shuni in order to ascertain the number of residents affected and the level of damage done by the disaster.
The torrential rain which more or less confirmed NiMet’s earlier prediction of thunderstorms and rains from Wednesday to Friday across the country, lasted for several hours.
Flood submerges Nasarawa University Lecture Halls
Also last week, floods submerged some lecture halls at the Faculty of Arts, Federal University of Lafia, in Nasarawa State, disrupting lectures in the affected departments.
Some 200-level students, speaking on the condition of anonymity, expressed their frustration. They reported that the floods have severely disrupted their studies, making it difficult to hold lectures in the flooded halls.
Around this period across the country the experience is similar. But this happens every year. The wet periods predispose communities to greater dangers experience has indicated. In July alone the destructions and loses have been unprecedented and are avoidable. With about three months remaining for the raining season to end, and, that is barring the unpredictable climate change, fears about worst disasters are heightened. Almost every raining period the fatalities increase.
FCT
In a fresh alert NiMet warned residents of FCT that communities would be submerged in floods with heavy rains falling in few days. The agency has confirmed that the upcoming rains will be heavier than what we have experienced so far in July and part of August with accompanying cold.
Experts’ Views
The cause of the floods is largely manmade. A number of studies have been carried to investigate the cause of flood in Nigeria. flooding in the country has appeared to become almost a yearly phenomenon. Experts have blamed governments for the incessant floods. Experts say the attitude of government towards the forecasts can improve the environment or contribute to flood threats. A right decision can mitigate the impact of floods. There is growing concern that climate change will further worsen the threats of floods in many states of the country.
A consulting town planner, Mr Ayo Adejumo said “Everything that was not planned will give bad or wrong results or lead to disasters such as flooding we experience all over Lagos now.
The lack of proper planning of our environment is giving us what we see now in our environment.
When the government spends money to do development plans and they are not implemented, ungodly situations like flooding is what we get because development plans take care of environmental issues like this and proffer adequate mitigation measures.
Added to this is poor drainage network. This is worsened by the habit of dumping refuse in drainage channels which become blocked and lead to flooded neighbourhoods.
The citizens and residents also, have their share of the blame. Although they do not make economic decisions in term of policies, they are faulted for building a considerable number of structures along drainage channels. The People build to block water channels. Inefficient physical development control is another major cause.
Solutions
The governments should demonstrate some level of responsibility and accountable to changes in climate. Government, through its planning agencies, should not have allow any blockage of the drainage channels. Lack of provision of dump sites as part of planning is also a factor causing flooding as residents dump wastes and refuse in the drainage and water bodies thus blocking free flow of water.
Governments should endeavour to clear and maintain the secondary and primary drainage channels so that they can accommodate run-offs from heavy rains like this one.
The floods and its aftermaths are avoidable, but the governments prefer to chase rat when the house is on fire.
