Lessons From Ibadan Flood Disaster

One of the perennial and intractable problems in Nigeria is flood. On yearly basis, the country experiences flood that leaves many people dead and renders others homeless. This year alone, Nigeria has experienced flood disasters in about three states, Lagos, Oyo and Cross River.

In Ibadan, Oyo State capital, no fewer than one hundred and two persons reportedly died in a flood disaster on August 26, 2011. Apart from those who died, properties worth billions of naira were destroyed by the flood. Properties destroyed included houses, vehicles, bridges and markets. Some major roads in the city were also rendered impassable by the flood.

Those passing through the city to other parts of the South-West and the northern parts were stranded. At Apete, the flood sacked the community as the bridge linking it with the city caved in. The narrow bridge linking Odo-Ona and Elewe Communities was destroyed by the flood, thus making the road impassable. The inhabitants of Omi-Adio area of Ibadan were among the worst affected as the flood swept away their farmlands and displaced many households. Stall owners at the popular market in the area shed tears on sighting the level of destruction done to their goods.

The magistrate court in the centre of Ibadan was not spared either, as some vital documents were destroyed by the flood. Many fish and poultry farms were equally affected.

In fact, this is a major disaster that should attract the attention of the authorities and well-meaning citizens of this country. Floods are seasonal occurrence that come with the rainy seasons. We should therefore do something reasonable to check the seasonal floods that usually come with terrible disaster. Silted gutters and drainages should be regularly desilted, while indiscriminate dumping of refuse in gutters should be stopped. So, also, illegal structures should not be constructed across drainages as it is being done in most parts of Nigerian cities.

At this stage, it is necessary that the Oyo State government pull down all the illegal structures constructed across gutters in Ibadan. All waterways should be made free so that when the rain falls, water can flow freely. Other obstacles that impede the free movement of water should be removed in the city. It should be noted that the lives lost in this flood disaster cannot be replaced.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to assist the Oyo State Government on the flood that sacked Ibadan. He made the promise after visiting some of the areas affected by the flood.

While describing the flood site as pitiable, the president said technical experts would be deployed from the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment to identify how the Federal Government could help Oyo State Government to handle the disaster. We hope the Federal Government would act quickly to save further flood disasters in the area.

Also this year, Cross River State was sacked by flood which killed many people and destroyed many properties. Worst hit areas are Calabar municipality, Calabar South, Ikom, Obubra and Agwagune in Biase Local Government Area where thousands of people were displaced.

The Director General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Vincent Aquah said the pressure on the state economy occasioned by the spate of flood disaster was overwhelming. According to him, several hectares of farmland were  destroyed by the ravaging flood. This might result in lean harvest for farmers this year. He appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency to assist the state.

It will be recalled also that on Sunday, July 10, 2011, twenty people died in another flood disaster that occurred in Lagos. Apart from those who died, properties worth billions of naira were also destroyed by the flood. As a result of the disaster, the Lagos-Abeokuta Express Road caved in, causing great difficulty to motorists.

The Governor of the State, Mr Babatunde Fashola led a team of Government Officials to the affected areas to assess the level of devastation caused by the flood. Governor sympathized with those who lost their loved ones and properties.

As already indicated, flood is a perennial problem in Nigeria, particularly during the rainy reason. Something therefore should be done to check the seasonal flood. There should be good network of drainage all over the flood-prone areas of the country, because poor drainage system causes flood. Meanwhile, all the bad habits of building across gutters and dumping of refuse in drainages should be stopped. This will allow rainwater to flow easily when the rainy season starts.

Tolofari, a distinguished fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, lives in Port Harcourt.

Mann Tolofari