Averting Imminent Flooding In Rivers

For the umpteenth time, Rivers State led the ever-increasing traffic of states, especially littoral states prone to high impact flooding in the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s recent but obviously grim rainfall prediction for this year.
NIMET, in its 2017 rainfall prediction, penultimate week, alerted that Rivers State may suffer severe flooding this year as a result of heavy rainfall.
Many communities in the coastal areas of the state, NIMET stated, would likely witness heavy flooding, no thanks to the torrential rains that are witnessed daily in the state.
The agency listed such local government areas as Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA), Ahoada West, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, among many others that are most likely to suffer the deleterious impact of the heavy rainfall.
Assuring, however, that it was prepared to respond swiftly to probable emergency situation arising from flooding, NIMET has appealed to residents of flood-prone areas not to go to sleep with two eyes closed.
The agency’s South South Zonal Head, James Eze Major, ostensibly exasperated by the gloomy picture of the situation, had blamed the flooding of some states to poor town planning administration and the penchant by developers to shun physical and urban planning codes and laws. We agree no less.
Even as town planning administrators and developers deserve severe knocks for throwing all known rules of urban planning and safety to the dogs, the environmental conduct of most residents leaves much to be desired.
A situation where residents gleefully block drainage systems with solid materials, while others build on natural waterways, in this age, only gives the impression that most seemingly invertebrate Nigerians really belong to the stone age!
As it is, a far-reaching and comprehensive plan of action to tackle the problem has become imperative. This would require a synergy between the state government, local councils and relevant agencies to squarely and speedily address the flood menace in the state.
While residents of flood-prone areas and indeed everyone, are expected to look out for water levels as the rains get heavier and severe, it behooves the State Environmental Ministry, Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to urgently adopt more pro-active measures to tackle refuse disposal and the erection of structures on waterways and canals.
Similarly, The Tide urges RIWAMA and the Ministry of Environment to, without further delay, embark on the disilting of the  drainage system, especially in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
In the same vein, domestic and industrial waste must be properly disposed off in order not to constitute environmental hazards capable of causing flooding.
If flooding ultimately occurs as NIMET has predicted, the state and local governments must ensure that adequate shelter and relief materials are provided for victims of flood.
Government must also ensure that whatever is provided for flood victims, promptly get to them. This is more so as past experiences have revealed how food items and drugs meant for flood victims end up in the open market as officials assigned for the welfare of displaced persons shortchange the system for their selfish ends.
The time to act is now.