Tackling Flooding In Rivers

Obviously rattled by the devastation caused by the massive flash floods, penultimate weekend, in most parts of Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike empathised with victims of the disaster, and assured that his administration will work with relevant agencies to tackle the menace.
Speaking after inspecting the areas affected by the two days of torrential rainfall, the governor, who was accompanied by Julius Berger engineers and officials of the state Ministry of Works, directed relevant government agencies to take immediate remedial measures as  well as embark on regular desilting of major canals, creeks and waterways in the flood-prone areas in the state.
The Tide, indeed, joins the governor in sympathising with the victims of the recent flood disaster, especially against the backdrop of the devastating effect it had on many residents and their properties across the state.
We are, however, saddened that in spite of the warnings by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), forecasting this kind of occurrence in the state, the flash flood still had a field day. Given the NIMET’s warning and in view of the fact that flooding has become an annual ritual in the state because of its topography, we had expected all stakeholders to have taken preventive measures to forestall this ugly occurrence.
We have observed over time that many residents and others doing business in the state are in the habit of dumping solid wastes into drainages and water channels, thereby inhibiting free-flow of water. While we urge residents to stop this unhealthy habit, we also call on relevant government agencies such as Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) to be alive to their responsibilities by ensuring that culprits are brought to book.
We are, however, glad to know that RIWAMA, last Monday, sacked desilting contractors for sabotaging government’s efforts towards checking flooding in the state, especially the state capital and its environs. Even at that, we had expected RIWAMA to have given the contractors close monitoring and not wait until disasters, like the recent one, had occurred before acting.
We also observe lack of synergy between RIWAMA and other relevant stakeholders, particularly Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, and Ministry of Works, in prevention and management of disasters such as the recent flooding in some parts of the state.
More worrisome is the fact that despite the presence of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the state, its officials were hardly seen on ground before, during and after the disaster that trapped many victims for hours. It is unfortunate that as at the moment, NEMA is yet to provide the number of casualties and value of properties damaged by the flooding, let alone proffering measures to cushion the negative impact on victims.
This, to us, is sad and unacceptable. It is, indeed, a clear indication of the total neglect of its responsibilities to the people of the state. In fact, the sufferings of the people of the state in the aftermath of the 2012 flooding are still very fresh in our minds.
This is why we urge the state government to consider the establishment of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), equipped with adequate facilities and manpower to quickly intervene and respond to urgent and desperate disaster management needs in the state.
While we advocate the continuous desilting of canals, creeks, drainages and waterways, we urge residents, who have formed the habit of dumping solid wastes indiscriminately, to desist forthwith, so as to assist the state government in its effort to achieve a flood-free environment in the state.