Statement and advice by Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba
Executive Director, Nigerian Environmental
Study Action Team (NEST) Ibadan.
The
issue
As we approach the rainy season, the
Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has warned of possible heavy rainfall
this year. Last year NIMET also warned, but this seemed not headed. The cost in
terms of human and materials losses are very severe, and we are still studying
to understand the dimensions of that loses in
health, housing and infrastructure, human lives and livelihood, man
hours in terms of work and schooling, and losses to Gross Domestic product,
hence compromising human welfare, worsening poverty and health.
Recent
experiences
In 2012 flooding along the inland valleys around the Niger and Benue
Rivers, down to the low lying planes of the Delta and coastal areas of Nigeria.
Changes in rainfall regimes in the savanna regions of West Africa, including
Nigeria’s neighbours posses challenges for the management of water resources,
including dams on major West African waters. Human settlements, cities, and
industrial/commercial properties and infrastructures, as well as agricultural
production were impacted adversely. In the same 2012 in Lagos, severe wind
storms led to fall of telecommunication masts which led to death of humans and
destruction of infrastructure.
In
2011, the Lagos extreme rainfall events, with
precipitation per time unit beyond naturally geologically tolerable thresholds
leading to sever human settlement, infrastructure, and livelihood adverse
impacts. In a less significant in precipitation volume, but more in human lives
lost, Ibadan in the same 2011 experienced similar extreme rainfall event.
In 2010, extreme rainfall in the Sokoto and Maiduguri axes, accompanied by
flash floods leading to losses in human lives and livelihood, as well as
infrastructure, including the well publicized collapse of the intra- University
of Sokoto Bridge.The locations impacted by these events in
2010, 2011, and 2013. These recommend that Nigerians should prepare ahead, and
take the warning by NIMET very seriously.
What
science tells us
Studies under the Building Nigeria’s
Response to Climate Change (BNRCC) project by NEST with support of the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA), tells us that climate change is
manifesting in changing rainfall patterns all over Nigeria among other
parameters of climate change. These manifest as increased frequency of occurrence
of extreme rainfall with heavy amount of precipitation occurring in a
relatively short period of time. Reduced number of rainy days in the southern
rainforest and coastal states but with little or no change in total annual precipitation
portends risks all over the country. The National Adaptation strategy and Plan
of Action on Climate Change for Nigeria (NASPA-CCN) developed under the BNRCC
charts the pathway for the country, defining sectoral priorities and roles for
various stakeholders including the Federal, State, and Local Governments, as
well as non-state actors. As common in Nigeria, this deeply and elaborately
developed guide is asking for serious and sincere attention from those who
should.
What
we should be doing now
All stakeholders, including governments at
every level, and Non-state actors should commence awareness campaigns and keep
citizens at alert.
Media houses should engage in creating
awareness on the challenges of extreme rainfall events, and areas very much at
risk. Attitudinal changes in waste management are
required of the citizens. This is especially to keep drains (where available) free
from refuse.
Water channels need to be freed of all blockages.
Dredging and desilting of streams and rivulets are required now. Private sector
operatives can support these as part of social corporate responsibility. There should be demolishing of structures
illegally constructed which blocked drains and access roads in case of
emergencies. Building approving agencies should update and enforce regulations.
The lessons of the Lagos and Ibadan floods
recommends that unless under immediate danger, citizens should remain where
they are when floods commence rather than risking unsure and unsecured paths
that exposes them to flood and drowning.
The emergency management agencies such as
the National Emergency management Agency (NEMA), and the state counterparts,
the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the fire service, and security agencies need to
be sensitized and equipped and be ready to go when requested.
Ministry of health has to have ambulances,
and emergency supplies and needs handy and ready.
