DIMINISHING AGAINST THE MENACE OF FLOOD IN NIGERIA, A PECULIAR NATURAL DISASTER,THROUGH FRIENDLY ECOSYSTEM
By: Amb. Abdullahi ibrahim
Flood is a peculiar form of natural disaster in Nigeria. Flood is a resultant proof that Nigeria is a hydrological zone or nation. Nigeria is has abundant water wealth,containing many water bodies, islands, lakes, beeches and other resultant ecological zones. The menace of flood is caused by the natural force of water exerted by the energy of water.
Flood is a natural effect of flowing water from one location to another.It mainly occurs when there is a significant outrageous increase in water level and water resources in a given geographical area.But,as it causes severe losses to man, it is believed that other natural phenomena contribute natural forces that lead to the negative consequences of flooding. Water flows by the virtue of forces from high potential area to low potential area. Water flow is possible with the help of energy that water exerts, which causes effects as the resultant work done.
The major causes of flood in Nigeria is the overflow from excesses water from dams and water bodies. Dam, a structure designed to impound water, has an expected level, which,if when water goes beyond the guage would lead to overflowing. The excessive water flowing from the dams will be absorbed from the environment, which creates harmful effects to the ecosystem. Flood disasters through dams can be controlled by timely inspection and mitigation strategies by water resources engineers and managers.But,the fact remains that any excessive water channeled to the environment must exert energy that will create disastrous work and effects.
The government must ensure that water channels are thoroughly built to channelise flowing water to weaken the force effects of it from causing water disasters. The citizens must not dump refuse in the channels or water run-ways to mitigate against flood disaster to the ecosystem. The drainage system should be gotten rid of blockages during the rainy season,and properly checked from time to time,to mitigate against flood. Flood,as a natural disaster,occurs accidentally, so citizens must put some actions in force to forestall the menace of flood,while mitigating against it.
Citizens living in coastal areas must have water survival kits and be trained to avert the effects of water disasters. They should also put measures in place to checkmate the excessive flow of water within their geographical locations. They must be prepared to mitigate against water disaster in case it occurs accidentally.
The government at all levels should promulgate legislations to curtail the citizens from buying lands or building in the coastal areas to mitigate against flood. The citizens should not site their residential buildings in hydrological centres to save lives from flood disasters. The drainage system should mostly be concealed with strong concrete structures to avoid flood from moving haphazardly on the environment and its ecosystem. Ecosystem in coastal areas should be more of tree planting of cash crops and ephemerals that can survive the menace of flood disaster, while mitigating against it.
The underutilization of water wealth in a hydrological nation causes flood and water disasters. The government should construct more dams to utilize the nation’s water wealth and, in turn,mitigate against flood and water disasters. More water reservoirs should be constructed to save the excess water to mitigate against waste in the form of flood. The reserved water resources can be used for irrigation purpose and in construction industry. Reserved water resources can be used in aquaculture to rear aquatic animals for food and generation of revenues.
Some of these hydrological centres and water bodies can be converted into tourist centres for leisure and entertainment purposes.It is a major way of converting wastes to potential wealth by tourism investors and tourists. Hydrological centres with water falls attract tourist investors, as its significance to building relaxation centres can never be over-emphasized. The need to explore the potential wealth in hydrological centres and water bodies underscores the rising boom in water tourism in the world today.Instead of allowing excess water in the hydrological centres and water bodies,the public and private players must turn water waste in the form of flood into wealth by proper utilisation of water gifts to the ecosystem.
The services of enough Water and Sanitation Engineers are needed in the various states of the federation to ensure timely and reutine Environmental Impact Assessment records. These professionals should properly manage the hydrological centres and water bodies in their respective environments, with the support of Nigeria Meteorological Agency(NiMet). The Ecological and Climate Change offices of the federation should complement the efforts of the government at all levels in mitigating against flood and water disasters. Adequate control should be made to manage flood-prone zones to mitigate against the effects of flood and water disasters.
Flood is often accidental,an occurrence without prior notification. The immediate steps and actions taken by Mr. President in the recent flood disaster in Maiduguri was highly welcome. Sending the Vice-President for on-spot assessment immediately helped for the welfare of the displaced citizens and brought about succour to the water-ravaged areas. And Mr. President’s visit to Maiduguri immediately he came back from his foreign trip was a gesture borne out of his heart of compassion, friendliness,leadership and godliness.Both leaders’ unwavering commitments to ameliorating the sufferings of the suffering citizens of flood disasters in Maiduguri were right steps of intervention.Kudos to Mr. President and his VP!
The interventional measure of creating Flood Victims Relief Funds by Mr. President was to promptly intervene on the welfare of flood and water disasters victims in Nigeria. Anyone could be a victim of flood disaster,as I personally had witnessed flood menace in the time past. I knew what it was to be displaced by flood and water disasters. Flood disasters require emergency or prompt response to mitigate losses, to save lives and property,and to restore the friendly ecosystem. Helping flood disasters victims means saving lives,so it is a noble task of nation building. Private individuals should show love by coming to the aids of flood victims in Nigeria.
Humanitarian services attract special blessings. It is giving lives true meaning to the hopeless and the helpless in the society.Such gesture is enshrined in the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President as testified in his people-saving interventional initiatives promptly designed to give succour to the victims of water or flood disasters in Maiduguri recently.May I appreciate the efforts of the opposition leaders,who showed enormous supports to Mr. President in this trying moment of flood disasters in the country.I appreciate such generosity and nationalistic spirits in our leaders irrespective of their political affiliations. All hands must be on deck!
May God bless Nigeria!
May God keep giving increases to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,His Excellency Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR.
AMBA. ABDULLAHI IBRAHIM.
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