Environment

Mixed Reactions Greet Early Rainfall In PH

Published

7 years ago

January 28, 2019

Some residents of Port Harcourt City and environs have expressed mixed feelings over the impact of the early rainfall on flooding and businesses in the city and environs.
Across section of residents who spoke in an interview with The Tide said that the early rainfall is good as it helps to reduce heat and dust but bad for farming and other businesses as well as increased the rate of water logging in the city and environs.
It would be recalled that the situation was especially bad at the Nkpolu Junction Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area as shop owners hurriedly locked up shops to avoid being caught up in the rushing water occasioned by the heavy downpour of last Wednesday.
There was also gridlock at Market Junction along the Port Harcourt Express Road, business activities were also paralysed at Emenike Junction, Mile I and Mile III markets respectively as well as at the MTN of the Port Harcourt – Aba Road.
While some residents expressed happiness and excitement over the rainfall describing it as a good omen, others expressed concern over the heavy traffic caused by the flood.
Some of the residents told The Tide that, the rain has brought them happiness and excitement stressing that, it has helped to reduce the terrible heat and dust being experienced since the advent of the dry season.
Mrs Aki Eze, a trader at the Mile I Market said that she does not bother about the flood caused by the storm as long as she can sleep well at night.
“Although, I could not do business that day, but I like the rain because I can now sleep comfortably Mrs Eze who claimed to be residing in Diobu, said that in their residence they sleep outside because of the heat especially at night.
Also speaking with The Tide, Mr Boniface Agi who rides motorcycle along the Igbo Etche-Rumuok-wurusi road said that he welcomed the rains because it had reduced the dusty nature of the road.
“You know because of bad roads, everywhere, has been dusty since the beginning of the year.
“So the rain is welcomed” he said. However, Mr. Olalekan Ige a Port Harcourt-based journalist said that the level of flooding occasioned by the rainfall should be a wakeup call to both the authorities and people to think of ways of averting flooding this year in the city.
According to him, people must avoid dumping refuse into the drains while the authorities must ensure that refuse bins are placed everywhere.
According to him, 60 percent of flooding in Port Harcourt is caused by human activities, stressing that the sooner the people realised this, the better it will be for the city.
Also speaking, an environmentalist, Prince William Chinwo, stressed the need for more sensitisation against dumping of refuse in gutters and drainages.
According to him, drainages must be kept clean of debris while sanitation authorities must keep close watch on market places where most refuse are generated.
Chinwo also stressed the need for refuse collectors to be cautioned against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse, while all buildings on water right of ways be demolished to ensure the free flow of water.
Also speaking, Mrs. Hannah Obaraboye said that flooding occasioned by the downpour has underscored the need for the enforcement of the law against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the state.
Mrs. Obaraboye blamed the flooding caused by the rain that day on the blockage of drainages, stressing that something must be done by the authorities to avert a disaster in the city this year.

Tamunoseipiriala Okulokika

Environment

Why Buildings Keep Collapsing In Nigeria…. NIOB

Published

16 hours ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has attributed the recurring building collapse cases across the country to weak construction laws and failure to hold offenders accountable.

President of the institute, Daniel Kolade, made this known in Abuja at the 2026 Builders Day celebration, themed, “Advocacy and Policy Influence: Towards Sustainable Reforms for a Resilient Built Environment”

He expressed worry that, in spite of concerns over building safety, a key regulatory framework meant to strengthen enforcement within the built environment has remained pending before the National Assembly since 2006.

According to him, the delay has created a situation where those responsible for structural failures often escape punishment.

“Because the enforcement arm of the law is still lying with the National Assembly and has not been passed into law since 2006, the room remains for people to go scot-free when these incidents happen,” Kolade said.

According to Kolade, the lack of consequences encourages negligence on construction sites, as many operators believe little or nothing will happen, even if they violate building regulations.

Kolade cited previous building collapse incidents where, years after the tragedies, no individual had been prosecuted or sanctioned.

“As long as people continue to go free when these things happen, you should expect that it may not stop,” he said.

The NIOB president also said that the growing number of unqualified individuals working on construction sites worsened the problem.

He said it has become common for people without the required training or professional certification to assume technical roles in building projects.

“On most construction sites today, everybody claims to be an engineer, even labourers.

“Without the requisite knowledge and understanding, people just assume roles they are not qualified for,” he said.

Kolade noted that professional builders are regulated by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), which has the authority to register practitioners and discipline erring members.

He explained that builders found guilty of professional misconduct should face sanctions, including the withdrawal of their practicing licences.

However, he said the absence of a strong enforcement mechanism outside professional bodies makes it difficult to prosecute developers or project promoters who violate construction standards.

“In Nigeria, only one major case in Lagos saw the building promoter go down with the incident.

“In many other cases across the country, those responsible have walked free,” he said.

Kolade stressed that the built environment consists of several specialised professionals, each with defined responsibilities, including builders, architects and engineers.

He said the NIOB remained committed to promoting professionalism, ethical standards and quality assurance within the building industry.

March 13 is observed annually as Builders’ Day to create public awareness about the roles of professional builders and the importance of engaging qualified professionals in construction projects.

Environment

Lagos Resumes Monthly Environmental Sanitation April 25

Published

16 hours ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Lagos State Government has announced the resumption of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, nearly a decade after it was suspended in the state.

Residents are expected to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels in front of their homes, and dispose of waste responsibly as part of efforts to improve environmental hygiene and tackle waste management challenges.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Saturday, disclosed the development in a statement, explaining that the exercise would officially restart later in the year.

“I am pleased to inform all Lagosians that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise will resume effective Saturday, 25th April 2026, holding on the last Saturday of every month from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

“During this period, residents are enjoined to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels in their frontages, and dispose of waste properly as a civic responsibility.”

Wahab urged residents to view the initiative as a shared duty toward building a healthier city, stressing that the government would ensure strict compliance.

“This exercise is a collective responsibility and a vital part of our commitment to a cleaner, healthier, and flood-resilient Lagos. And it shall be backed with the full enforcement weight of the Lagos State Government,” he said.

Explaining the significance of reintroducing the sanitation culture, the commissioner said the state was returning to a practice that once formed part of Lagosians’ lifestyle.

“Let me formally say this and say it boldly. Mr Governor and his deputy are taking a very audacious step. For those who don’t know, prior to 2016, we had a culture that emphasised cleanliness as next to godliness.

“Once every month, we took our time to clean up our surroundings and then maintain them sparkling. However, for some years, we stopped it.”

He said the absence of the exercise had contributed to mounting environmental pressures in the state.

“Now, waste, debt, and environmental challenges have become an existential challenge to us as a state. It’s taken us over a year to debate, talk, and agree that it’s time to reintroduce a monthly environmental sanitation,” Wahab said.

Appealing to residents for cooperation, he urged Lagosians to dedicate a small portion of their time each month to environmental cleanliness.

“It’s a plea that it is time for us to give up just one or two hours a month. In our marketplaces, every Thursday, we observe environmental cleanliness. But this time, we are saying as a state, let us sit back once a month and observe the cleanliness of our environment as we used to before 2016.”

“The monthly sanitation exercise, previously held on the last Saturday of every month between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the exercise.

The suspension later coincided with growing waste management concerns, including clogged drainage channels and indiscriminate refuse disposal across parts of the state.

Environment

Illegal Buildings On Embassies’ Land Will Be Demolished – Wike

Published

16 hours ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has condemned the construction of buildings on land allocated to foreign embassies in the diplomatic zone of Katampe Extension, Abuja, describing them as illegal structures.

Wike spoke on Friday while addressing journalists during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects across the FCT.

He said the illegal structures would not be allowed to stand and ordered the demolition of the affected buildings.

During the tour, the minister inspected several roads and infrastructure projects, including the route linking Wuse to the Central Area, a road near the Body of Benchers complex, and the Tungan-Madaki road off the airport corridor.

He expressed confidence that many of the projects would be completed in time for the inauguration marking the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

On the illegal structures occupying embassy land, Wike said the plots had originally been allocated on March 18, 2008, to various diplomatic missions for residential purposes, but were later seized by an illegal developer who began construction without approval from the Federal Capital Development Authority.

“This land was allocated to various embassies in 2008. Somebody just came here, took the land, and started developing it on their own without approval from the FCDA. We cannot allow this kind of land invasion to continue,” he said.

Wike listed the diplomatic missions affected to include Thailand, Bulgaria, Syria, Somalia, Serbia and Montenegro, Japan, Austria, Switzerland, Senegal, and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. A portion of the land had also been reserved for the Power Holding Company of Nigeria for a 132/133KV power station.

The minister said the FCTA had directed the Department of Development Control to demolish all structures on the land and restore it to its original purpose.

“I have told them to bring down every building standing on this land,” he said, adding that the affected embassies would be formally notified to take possession of their allocated plots.

Wike also disclosed that the suspected developer had been arrested and would soon be prosecuted.

“The man has been arrested and he will be charged in court. The police are carrying out their investigation and he will be charged any moment from now,” he said.