Date: 2015-08-16

A flooded street near River Kaduna, after a downpour in Kaduna city that lasted for six hours, recently. At the beginning of the year, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) released its 2015 annual rainfall pattern predicting slightly above average rainfall for some parts of Nigeria. Barely three months into the wet season, states have started witnessing massive flooding akin to what happened in 2012. Daily Trust on Saturday reports on the issue along the looming release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. The Cameroonian government last week notified Nigeria of her intention to release water from the Lagdo Dam that was responsible for unleashing mayhem on Nigerians in 2012. The release led to flooding that killed 363 people and displaced over 2.1 million people in 30 states.

The information was conveyed to Nigerians by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) that alerted states and communities along River Benue of possible flood following the impending release of excess water from Lagdo Dam. Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi said the Cameroonian authorities in Garuoa had indicated that between now and November 2015, there would be routine release of water from the dam. Sidi said the authorities had also warned "all those living around the dam and along River Benue in Garoua up to Nigeria to be at alert and be ready for evacuation in case of possible flooding."

He called on the governors along the River Benue, state emergency management agencies, first responders and relevant authorities to alert the communities at risk, prepare safe locations for possible evacuation and adequate preparedness.

Federal Government's reaction

Federal Government of Nigeria responded to the news of the planned release of water from the Lagdo Dam by assuring of its commitment to construct Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State to contain the excess volume occasionally being released from Cameroon. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Musa Istifanus said the ministry was making efforts to see that the construction of the dam commences. According to Istifanus, the ministry had already completed the construction of Kashimbila Dam on River Kashimbila in Taraba State which would contain 30 per cent of the water from Cameroon while the proposed Dasin Hausa Dam will contain the remaining 70 per cent. He advised Nigerians living along the plains of the Benue River to relocate because if the government appealed to Cameroon not to release the water, the dam may collapse andcause more damages.

The Ministry of Environment also alerted Nigerians on the consequences of the release of water from the Lagdo Dam and further held a one-day emergency meeting on the matter. The meeting confirmed that the expected flood would affect the Benue River Basin, meaning that all states from Adamawa to the Niger Delta would be affected while flooding in other cities across the country would occur due to poor waste management.

In a communiqué after the meeting read by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Nana Mede, it recommended that a buffer dam that would cushion the impact of the water from the Lagdo Dam be built in the next 36 to 48 months. Besides, the communiqué noted that the post-2012 flood victim support committee be encouraged to submit their report, while a policy on waste separation and recycling be adopted to reduce flood associated with indiscriminate dumping of waste along drainages, canals and waterways and the need to communicate early warning/forecast to states and local governments. Even as the Abuja meeting was making its recommendations, the states are already facing realities of flood from the rains when water from Lagdo Dam is yet to be released.

Benue

The predicted heavy rainfall submerged at least 100 houses last weekend in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Daily Trust on Saturday reports that though no deaths were recorded, many families have been displaced from their homes and forced to take shelter with their relatives in other parts of the town. The areas heavily affected include Demekpe, Wadata Rice Mill, Agboughoul village, Mobile Barrack, Achusa village, end of Vandeikya Street along Ishaya Bakut Street and Logo areas of the state capital. The state Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Engr. Nick Wende has told residents of the state capital and other towns whose houses have been constructed on waterways to expect such houses to be demolished soon, noting that the obstruction of free flow of water had been responsible for many cases of flooding in the state.

Some community leaders in affected places, Zaki Adamus Gwaza, Rev. Okoh Sunday and Tersee Dankaro have solicited the intervention of the government in order to alleviate their sufferings, pledging also to cooperate with government in the proposed demolition of all illegal structures on waterways.

Adamawa

Adamawa State Governor Bindow Jibrilla has alerted riverine communities in the state on the need to watch out for possible flooding due to release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. Jibrilla said the state government had already gotten a letter from the Cameroonian authorities on the plan to release excess water from the dam soon. He said that he personally toured the flood-prone communities to enlighten the people of the threat, adding that the state government had commenced media campaign to alert the public on the need to take precautionary measures to avoid a repeat of what happened in 2012 when many lives and properties were lost.

Kaduna

In Kaduna State, flood overwhelmed about seven local government areas killing two people, destroying over 60 houses and property worth millions of Naira. The local governments affected are Kachia, Kaura, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kauru, Kubau and Soba.

Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ezekiel Baba-Karik confirmed that two teenagers lost their lives to the flood in Kachia Local Government Area, saying measures were being taken towards preventing future occurrence. According to him, "Before the flood, we have been creating awareness to the people based on the prediction of Nigeria Metrological Agency. Though, the extent of damage is mild except for the deaths recorded, so we are working on solutions to see that we prevent future occurrence."

Besides, the Executive Secretary said over 70 percent of those affected in the flood was caused by humans or are self-induced because a lot of people built their houses on river banks. "Some houses don’t have good drainage system and some people dump refuse indiscriminately and compound the problem," the executive secretary said.

Kogi

Residents living along the river bank in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital have expressed fears over the prediction of impending floods following the expected release of excess water from Lagdo Dam.

Muhammed Abdullahi who has lived at Adankolo near the river bank for over 15 years, said he is afraid over the impending flood, saying he has nowhere to evacuate his family to should the flood occurs. "We are praying to God not to allow what we experienced in 2012 flood to repeat itself. We have really passed through untold hardship with little or no assistance from the government. We were asked to pay N20, 000 after the 2012 flood for us to be allocated houses but up till now, we have not seen anything," he said. A victim of 2012 flood at Qatan Dutse, Ibrahim Momoh said he had been thrown off balance since he heard the news of the impending flood and appealed to government to come to their rescue. He lamented that, efforts by government to relocate them after the 2012 flood was sabotaged by some people who were not victims of the flood.

"Since the announcement of the coming of flood, we have not been sleeping with our two eyes closed. We are panicking but there is nothing we can really do without the assistance of the government. We are disturbed as we don't know the level of the flood coming and the extent of damage it may cause to us," he said.

But Mrs Safiya Abdulazeez who lives at Jadumo by the river bank said she was not bothered about the report of the impending flood, saying Nigerian Meteorological Agency made similar predictions in the past and nothing happened. "No serious flood can come now; it should be after many years. I am not moved at all by this warning and I will not leave this place," she said. Meanwhile, the Kogi State government said it was working with the relevant authorities towards having a comprehensive rescue and evacuation plan in the event that the expected flood occurs after the state deputy governor, Yomi Awoniyi, who is also chairman of the state's Flood Management Committee, met with executives of the nine local government areas likely to experience this year's flood.

Awoniyi said the various local government areas had been asked to device means of sensitizing their communities of the expected flood.

Kwara

In Kwara State, the government said it has started an advocacy campaign on the likelihood of flood in the riverine areas of the state. Although, the state is yet to experience any flood, it has advised farmers and people living by the river bank to move away as part of measures to prevent any possible disaster. Special Adviser to Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed, Dr. Muideen Akorede said the state had already begun campaign to ensure that the people and farmers by the bank of the river move away.

He said, "There has not been any case of flood yet but as a proactive administration, we are already sensitizing the people who are living in flood-prone areas to move to a high place, so that it will not catch them unawares."

Sokoto

In Sokoto State, the flood has started with various levels of destruction recorded in some local government areas, including the one that ravaged Butuku-Babba village of Bodinga Local Government Area where about 115 houses were reportedly destroyed, many livestock killed and several farmlands submerged. Last week, a total of 148 houses were destroyed by flood which affected various parts of Gwadabawa Local Government Area, including Gwadabawa town, Galadunchin-tsauri, Mammande, Gidan-Doagza, Kililawa and 'Yar-Gada villages. Flood was also reported in Isa Local Government Area.

Director-General, Sokoto Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Hassan Maccido noted that the local government areas most prone to flooding include Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Raba, Wurno, Kware, Wamakko and Silame. He stressed that those who live along waterways should vacate as "this is a time of danger."

Cross River

The rains have continued to wreak havoc in several communities of Cross River State, including places like Edim Otop and Ikot Uduak, leaving the residents at the mercy of nature. The ceaseless flood has also sacked many households in the affected communities, their properties damaged and houses pulled down.

Findings confirmed more than 40 families have been forced to vacate the area while over 300 houses are at the verge of being submerged by the gully created by the flood. Village head-elect of the area, Princess Efioawan, said they now live in fear "knowing the speed at which erosion is eating our houses", stressing that many had been forced to abandon their houses.

"We have written an appeal letter to His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Ministry of Lands and the Mayor of Calabar Municipality appealing to them to come to our aid before it is too late," Princess Efioawan said. As states and residents struggle on how to tackle the menace of flood in their areas, there were calls that the federal government should investigate the Dangote committee that collected donations worth over N17 billion from individuals, international agencies and corporations to rehabilitate the victims of the 2012 flood but has failed to do so.