The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) released its 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) in January, warning Nigerians to prepare for the earlier-than-normal onset of rainfalls in most parts of the country.
With the release of the report, it is expected that key stakeholders are aware of the likely outcome of flooding in Nigeria this year following the devastating effect of flooding in some parts of the country in 2022.
Millions of persons were impacted by the flooding, with over 600 persons losing their lives in what was described as Nigeria’s worst flooding disaster in a decade.
The devastating effects were also recorded in agriculture, transport infrastructure, houses, power lines worth millions of dollars
Avoidable blame game
During the flooding disaster in 2022, while hundreds of Nigerians were dying, what we saw was a blame game charade among stakeholders.
The presidency accused states of not making use of the ecological funds provided to them by the federal government.
States, on the other hand, while asking the federal government to assist in containing the disaster, accused it of playing politics with the situation.
The Director-General of NIMET, Mansur Bako Matazu, has warned that with the increase in climate activities, there would be more floods in Nigeria. What action should then be taken?
In preparation for this year’s rainy season, Development Diaries hopes that concerned stakeholders are not carried away by election matters.
The rains will come again and flooding is likely to happen, but what measures are being put in place to ensure the safety of life and property?
Time to take action
NIMET has fulfiled its statutory responsibility to advise the government and people of Nigeria on all aspects of weather and climate; it is left for other relevant agencies of the government to get to work.
Development Diaries calls on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which is responsible for managing disaster issues in Nigeria, to ensure state-level preparedness to mitigate flooding disasters this year.
We also call on the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, which was established to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for Nigerians, to educate Nigerians on how to dispose of refuse properly.
As for citizens, you have a responsibility to avoid blocking drainages – an action that results in floods, too.
Photo source: Kenogenic
