Flooding: Analyst Tasks Govt On Database

Against the backdrop of the recent effects of the destating flood, a public affairs analyst, Chief Ray Tom Oyil, has advised government on the need for proper statistics to enable the authorities have a data base for the future.

Chief Oyil who spoke to our Correspondent at Owerewere recently at a public function opined that no study was done on the possible cause of the flood.

He said there was no clear cause (s) of the flood either.

He said until the main cause of the flood was identified, much would not be achieved in forestalling future occurrences.

He described the country’s preparedness for emergencies as lax unlike what obtains in other countries, where response to emergencies were rapid and prompt.

Chief Oyil advocated for organizations like the National Emergency management Agency, Federal an state ministreis of envrionment and other NGOs to be proactive in their activities.

He expressed sadness that budgets were always made and votes allocated to various sectors but when it comes to handling of emergencies Nigeria, according to him was always caught unprepared.

“I do not think it is a yearly occurrence and until we know what caused it we won’t know if it is a perennial thing”, he said.

He said there was need for proper statistics to know how many communities were affected and the number of casualties.

“We cannot fight nature but if we understand nature we would be able to manage such emergencies”, he said.

While sympathizing with farmers in the state and his community Obarany in Abua in particular, he called on the government to come to their rescue.

He said though there might be a positive side to the flood, the negative over weights the positive.

He said the flood has equally taught the people to be prepared for such occurrences by laying strong foundations when erecting buildings in the future.