Exit And Next-Coming Of "New Landlord"

By Etete, Enideneze

In this article, the writer critically reviews the 2022 flood disaster, and tinkers towards the speculated 2023 flood and beyond.

Good Heavens – the 2022 flood which came like end-time waters and took places on siege, has receded. But the long-term effects will linger on, even as alarm has been raised of another mishap in 2023.

The just-receded flood, alias 'New Landlord" was fraught with intrigues and buck-passing.

Nigeria engaged Cameroon in a soft diplomatic row over providing information ahead of opening the Lagdo Dam, or not opening it at a go.

There were altercations between Nigeria's Federal Government and States, despite the devastating effects on houses, farms, humans and the environment.

While the Federal Government said, it alerted states through NIHSA,NEMA and NiMET to manage the disaster in time, having also allocated funds from the Ecological Fund, States felt that it was the central government’s duty to play major roles in tackling the mishap.Similar arguments trailed provision of money and relief materials to the victims of the flood.

Blocked water outlets were not proactively cleared, one factor that worsened the disaster in some places.

The delay in rescuing victims and providing relief materials, further aggravated the impact of the flood on the people.

Irrespective of the pathetic situation, politicians turned it to an opportunity for exchanging political verbiages, to make political capital out of the peoples’ misfortune, despite empathy shown.

From the Federal level, different explanations oozed out to the people whose residents, property and means of livelihood were taking over by water. Some victims squatted with good Samaritans, while others lived in flood displaced persons’ (FDPs) camps and open spaces.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed and his Environment Ministry counterpart, Alhaji Suleiman aserted that rainfall caused 80% of the flooding, while Lagdo Dam in Cameroon caused 1%. These were contrary to earlier explanations by NIHSA, NEMA and NiMET.

Most surprising, was the un-listing of Bayelsa State in the rank of 10-most impacted states. The downgrading was as if palliatives to accrue from the misfortune was a blessing to warrant sectional and quota system scheming.

Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq may have anchored the ranking on specious statistics. The action attracted backlash and calls for her resignation. She later detoured and included Bayelsa, visited and apologized, when the flood was ebbing.

Indeed, the intrigues over the 2022 flood mishap were uncalled for, in view of the immeasurable immediate and long-term damage.

All tiers of government were expected to proactively provide lasting solutions and mitigation measures. It is more essential to tackle the problem, instead of just raising alarm and creating a palliatives-jamboree every year.

The environment, lives and property of the people can no longer be trifled with, no responsible government or leaders could leave its citizens suffer the same misfortune every year.

Therefore, all tiers of government and other stakeholders should tackle the recurrent flood disaster head-on. This is more so, as it has been predicted that the "New Landlord", would return in 2023. Lord have mercy!

Against this backdrop, collaborative local and international efforts are necessary, to reduce emissions of Green House Gas (GHG) causing changes in climatic and weather conditions, identified as one reason for excess-rainfalls and surge in sea waters. In this regard, the Federal Government needs to frantically enforce culture of environmental friendliness, particularly in the aspects of gas flaring and encourage use of alternative energy for industrial and domestic purposes.

The Federal Government should complete the abandoned Lagdo Dam project at Hausa Dasin. Existing dams need to be repaired. New dams should be built at suitable places. Major rivers and creeks should be dredged, disilted after proper impact assessments, while canals should be constructed to aid flow of water.

Governments could acquire state of the art dredging and clearing equipment for such purposes. Town planning, industrial and domestic waste laws and regulations need to be enforced, to stop people from blocking water outlets with buildings and dirt. Other tiers of government could collaborate with the Federal Government and among themselves in these regards.

The obnoxious Inland Waterways and Land Use Acts, have dis-empowered States, thus should be abolished. Abrogation of these laws would empower States to have more jurrisdictions over the use and management of resources/environmental problems.

It is necessary for states and local governments to set up flood and other disasters management commissions, as well as disaster relief fund, where non-exists. Where such or similar bodies exist, they should be effectively, and by experts.

Reclamation and sand filling of lands in the most riverine and swampy states, particularly those in the Niger Delta, including Bayelsa State, could provide safer locations for building of private houses and public institutions. Governments, estate companies and multinational oil firms could as well build low cost houses on reclaimed lands, as a permanent measure to forestall displacement from houses in flood-prone areas.

The perennial floods, have taught enough lesson, thus, individuals and governments may build houses after sand filing. Damp Proof Coast (DPC) of new buildings could be made high. Storey buildings could be constructed in areas not too susceptible to flooding, if they could afford. Government might produce or buy building materials and subsidize the cost for those with lean purse.

One other lesson from the annual flooding is submerging of roads and bridges, and washing away of some, particularly in the Niger Delta. This apparently indicates that roads and bridges should be built to standard. It also implies that aerial and river transport would be helpful,to ease movement of persons, commercial commodities, medics and rescue operations in flood disaster . Therefore, the Federal Government and State Governments, particularly those in the Niger Delta, including Bayelsa State, ought to acquire aircrafts, engine boats, badges, tramps, lightships and drones, ahead of future flood mishaps.

The way donation of monies and materials, were received and distributed in this year’s disaster by the Federal Government and a few states, leaves much to be desired. Hence, in the future, there should be well-organized methods of managing donations and palliatives, through effective agencies and by patriotic persons in order to reach the needy.

To proactively tackle food scarcity a government commodity marketing board could be set up, especially at state level. The essence is to to mass purchase farm produce, food, fuel etcetera and sell at subsidized prices or share free of charge to vulnerable people, in times of crises. Farmers would need to be given seedlings, fingerlings; fertilizers and extension services to encourage them take advantage of the dry season and cultivate short-duration crops, etcetera.

Special disaster health centers, some of which could be mobile, need to be established and be equipped for emergency services in times of disasters.

Effective information and communication management is a sine qua non in crisis or disaster management. Accordingly, crisis communication centers, equipped and managed by strategic communication experts and other relevant professionals coordinated by the Ministry of Information. State media organs and private outfits could be fully utilized as well.Doing so, would surely ease information gathering, proactive dissemination, feedback and quick documentation of the impact of disaster.

Although the flood has receded, in the interim the medics and other relief items acquired by government and those donated by donors, should not kept back. They could be made available for those who might be suffering the aftermath of this year’s flood.

In addition, financial safety valves, through bailouts, interest-free or single-digit loans and bonuses to civil servants, might help to restore businesses and property ravaged by this year’s flood, and give psychological succor to some. This is more so, as Christmas is coming with its price-hike, just as children’s educational needs will take tolls on parents.

Though flood is a natural mishap, human factors worsen the level of the incident and its impact. Moreover, it is a known-disaster, and as one crisis communication expert puts it, crisis is unavoidable, it will happen,when it will happen. Thus, Nigeria and its States should prioritize human lives, take responsibility and curb perennial flooding, while also providing mitigation measures whenever the disaster strikes.

Disclaimer: "The views expressed on this site are those of the contributors or columnists, and do not necessarily reflect TheNigerianVoice’s position. TheNigerianVoice will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here."