We need better approach to flood

Once again, we are experiencing flooding across the country, with farms and houses washed away. The situation has rendered many homeless just as means of livelihood have been destroyed. Every year, there are alerts and warnings about flood, yet when they occur, the damage is colossal. The issue of drainages have to be taken seriously. […]

Once again, we are experiencing flooding across the country, with farms and houses washed away. The situation has rendered many homeless just as means of livelihood have been destroyed. Every year, there are alerts and warnings about flood, yet when they occur, the damage is colossal.

The issue of drainages have to be taken seriously. Governments, traditional rulers and residents need to work together on this. Also authourities need to ensure that houses are not built along waterways to allow for easy flow of water during rainfall.  Also, the media has reported that governments are urging people leaving along flood prone areas to evacuate; but this is not enough. Over the years such calls have been ignored not because the people do not want to move but because most of them do not have anywhere to go.

Government and donor agencies should work towards construction of houses across the country so that people in such areas can be accommodated. I urge the government and all relevant agencies to take this issue seriously so that the loss on a yearly basis would be reduced to the barest minimum.

Adamu Bello wrote from Ajaokuta, Kogi State.