A climatologist, Prof.
Imo Ekpoh, has called for proactive measures by government and other stakeholders to curb flooding which has now become a yearly occurrence in the Niger Delta region.
Ekpoh, a lecturer in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Calabar, made the call in an interview with newsmen.
He said that a vigorous policy of zero gas flaring, tree planting and forest conservation programme was needed to check flooding in the region.
The climatologist blamed the combination of high temperature, as a result of global warming, and high tropical humidity for the recurring flood in the region and contiguous areas.
Ekpoh said climate change could be mitigated through reduced green house gas emissions caused by insatiable fossil fuel consumption, increased industrial processes and deforestation.
Ekpoh also called for periodic dredging of silted rivers and regular de-silting of urban drainage channels, both artificial and natural, to check flood.
He also called on relevant authorities to provide an adequate and sizeable drainage network for effective evacuation of runoff water after heavy rainfall.
“Town planning laws should be enforced to avoid the construction of structures on drainage channels. The amount of paved surfaces in urban and built-up areas should also be reduced.
“There should be increase in urban open spaces, such as lawns and parks, to encourage infiltration and to forestall flood.
“Dumping of refuse in gutters should be prohibited and offenders severely punished,’’ Ekpoh said.
The lecturer said also that infrastructure development and climate change were some of the causative factors for the yearly flooding in the Niger Delta.
He also said rapid urbanisation in cities like Calabar in recent years had resulted in the expansion of economic activities to lands classified as marginal and flood-prone.