Environmental experts in the South South have stated that proper planning and waste management are keys to flood prevention in the region.
Experts from Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States made the remark while responding to the survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on mitigating the impact of flooding in areas.
They maintained that to curb flooding in Nigeria, there must be improved town planning, as its importance in any ecological situation cannot be over-emphasised.
The respondents, however, said proper education on the hydrograph, waste management and attitudinal change of residents in waste disposal would go a long way in mitigating the impact of flood.
Speaking in Cross River, Dr Joel Effiong, a Hydrological and Geographical Information System expert at the University of Calabar, said flooding is worse in urban areas due to poor town planning.
According to him, building houses in urban areas and making every inch of the premises a concrete floor is a recipe for flood.
‘’This is because it encourages water run off, preventing it from being absorbed into the soil.
“It is not enough to approve building plans, government should regulate by ensuring that there is enough space for water to infiltrate into the soil whenever it rains to reduce run offs.
Effiong maintained that water run offs are the major cause of flood and gully erosion.
Similarly, Professor Eze Bassey of the Department of Geography at the University of Calabar, called for constant study and referral to the state’s hydrograph to properly warn residents on what to do before and after it rains.
He also called for the constant maintenance of the massive drainage channel in Calabar which moves 80 percent of water into rivers whenever it rains.
Bassey said this should not be the responsibility of government alone, as every community in the state should be responsible enough to clear their drains for free flow of water.
In his contributions, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Moses Osogi said the state had started the desilting of drains in the state and creating awareness on lifestyle changes.
He added that the state, in partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, had distributed hundreds of receptacle bins in urban areas for proper waste disposal.
“We have also set up a standing taskforce to arrest and send anyone disposing waste improperly to our mobile court,” he said.
He noted that the taskforce is also going after scavengers who scatter waste in receptacle bins and force a lot of wastes that should be in the bins into drainages.
Speaking in Rivers State, the National Publicity Secretary, Waste Management Society of Nigeria, WAMASON, Mr Benson Abu, said the society had carried out enlightenment campaigns in the state.
According to him, poor waste management accounts for over 60 percent of flood in Port Harcourt and environs.
“WAMASON had always advocated proper waste management which includes waste collection, recycling, as well as proper handling of plastic waste.’’
Abu stated that plastic waste contributes hugely to the congestion of drainages and waterways which, he said, is the primary cause of flooding in metropolitan areas.
He, however, urged Rivers residents to ensure free flow of water channels by eschewing dumping refuse into drains and ensuring waste-free surroundings.
Also responding, the Sole Administrator, Andoni Local government Area, Mr Atajit Francis, added that the council had re-awakened the consciousness of grassroots dwellers to sanitation.
According to Francis, sanitation forms part of the mandate given to the 23 local government administrators by the Ibok-Ete Ibas-led administration.
“Sanitation when holistically addressed would not only tackle diseases, but floods too.
“We are set to resume the compulsory monthly environmental sanitation exercise to ensure that our drainages and waterways are desilted,’’ he said.
Also contributing, an Environmentalist, Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, said town planning plays a critical role in mitigating flood and reducing their impact.
He urged government to ensure proper town planning in cities and communities in order to prevent construction in flood-prone areas.
Ebiaridor added that town planning promotes the use of floodplains for natural ecosystems which provide a habitat for various plants and animals, acting as natural buffers against flood.
He added that with town planning, wetlands and agricultural areas are identified, while drainage systems and green spaces are properly put in exact places to reduce flood.
Ebiaridor said without the town planning, designing roads, buildings and bridges would have flaws as they might end up being built in flood prone areas while emergency action against floods would be in vain.
According to him, proper town planning manages entire river basins effectively, supports groundwater recharge, while decreasing surface runoff and can mitigate flooding in most cities and states in Nigeria.
He, however, highlighted the importance of strategic land use, infrastructural design and environmental management as actions for flood mitigation.
Similarly in Akwa Ibom State, a Town Planner, Akpabio Ufot-Akpabio, stated that there must be adequate town or physical planning, management and development to mitigate flooding in the state and country.
He decried a situation where some states are still operating colonial town planning laws which had been obsolete and of no use.
He called on government at all levels to be serious in the town planning system of the country to avoid flooding.
The town planner added that in spite of the warning signal by Nimet, some states are still not taking steps to plan for flooding.
“As related to flooding, in most parts of the country, this is not the first time it has occurred, but the problem is that we lack planning.
“Government in most cases do not pay attention to planning,” he said.
He added that the planning law, which was passed in Nigeria many years ago, had not been domisticated by most states.
He said most states do not have laws that regulate physical planning, but are using the British or colonial planning law.
Ufot-Akpabio said in Akwa Ibom, colonial planning law is still in use and added that it is primitive.
According to him, development does not follow any set down pattern, people build indiscriminately and the construction pattern is poor.
In his contribution, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umanah, said the state government had embarked on desilting of drains to ensure free flow of water and prevent flooding.
According to him, government has approved the construction of Afaha Ube street and side drains to link Ikot Ekpene road, which will help alleviate flooding in the area.
“The state government also partnered the federal government to implement robust early warning systems, community engagement and capacity-building programmes to involve residents in averting flooding.’’
Umanah added that the governor had directed the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, AKSEPWMA, Mr Allan Ikim, to ensure adequate desilting of side drains across the metropolis.
According to him, government is also working on infrastructural projects, such as Nkari Dam which will help to enhance irrigation farming, water supply and flood control.
He said these initiatives demonstrate government’s commitment to address flooding in Akwa Ibom and improve the lives of citizens.
Also speaking, Dr Charles Effiong identified the attitude of residents of the state and Nigerians as part of the factors contributing to flooding in the country.
Effiong said even when adequate town planning is being put in place, the attitude of Nigerians must change to reduce flooding.
He, therefore, called for a change of attitude from Nigerians who dump their bags of waste into drains, blocking the free flow of water channels, thereby causing flooding.
‘’This is a problem, if people build shops and block drains, water will not flow the way it should flow.
‘’So attitudinal change has to be addressed, in terms of waste management and development.” he said.
He urged the state government to sensitise residents on the best practices of waste disposal and against the habit of disposing waste into gutters and blocking drainages.
He urged residents to naturally inculcate the habit of desilting drainages, especially during the raining season to avoid flooding. NAN
