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Rainy Season And Flooding In Rivers

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5 years ago

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There are signs that residents of Rivers State and its environs may witness heavy rainfalls this year.
The signs are already ominous. For some weeks now, the clouds have been building up and some parts of the state especially Port Harcourt city and its environs are experiencing what meteorologists usually describe as “light showers, lightning and thunder storm.”
According to Professor Emeritus Enuvie Akpokodje, Rivers State and the Niger Delta region of Nigeria are located within the flood plains of Nigeria.
This description means that as long as there are rainy seasons, Rivers State and its environs will continue to experience flooding, if nothing is done about it.
An Environmentalist, Ogbunie Prosper Jeremiah, told The Tide through a WhatsApp message that inasmuch as man cannot control rains, what is needed are mitigative measures to control flooding.
“On early rainfall and attendant flooding, we cannot control rainfall, but put in place measures to mitigate flooding.”
Jeremiah, who is the Port Harcourt chapter Chairman of the Nigeria Mining and Geoscience Society, Rivers/Bayelsa States, said aggressive publicity was needed to sensitise Rivers people with the view to preparing them ahead of the rainy season.
“So firstly, publicity on early warning on areas prone to flooding, the cause effect and what to do.”
He listed some measures that should be taken to check mate flooding in the forthcoming rainy season. Some of these measures according to him, include, cleaning and desilting of waterways and canals, cleaning of blocked drains, dredging of creeks/rivers to accommodate more volume of water while people should be discouraged from dumping waste into drains.
The NMGS chairman also called for the establishment of rehabilitation centres for people living in flood prone areas.
Other measures that should be put in place according to him, are construction of shore protectors in the riverine areas of the state.
Also speaking, another respondent, Miss Blessing Digbani, stressed the need for a proper waste disposal system, adding, while the government is doing its own parts, citizens should play their role in ensuring that drainages around the city are kept clean through regular desilting.
According to her, people should stop dumping of refuse both in drainages and on the roadside.
The environmentalist also urged for the constitution of a task force to monitor drainages, while government should ensure that more drainages are interlinked with the view to creating channels that will take water out of the city.
Digbani also called on residents to stop building on drainages and water right of ways,
On his part, Prince William Chinwo, regretted that some drainages in Port Harcourt City and environs are already filled with polymer products or plastics.
“Some of the new drainages are already filled with silts and polymer products or plastics.”
He said some of the sealed drainages have manholes that are very small, thus not able to be cleaned in case of blockade.
“People are still dumping refuse into public drains like observed in Sangana Street, so the problem of blockages lingers,” he said.
The environmentalist also condemned constant encroachment of people into flood right of way and river banks trough sand filling and property development.
He also regretted that the authorities, particularly the local government councils, were not taking the issue of sanitations seriously, adding their negligence was contributing to environmental lawlessness.
Chinwo also regretted that some motor parks and streets including some residential areas were lacking good sanitary facilities.
Also speaking, Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council, Hon Daniel Opelia Daniel, said the problem of flooding, especially in the Orashi region of the state can be tackled through the dredging of the Mbiama River.
He said this will enable water to flow easily into the sea.
According to Mrs Christie Iwezor, all drainages in the city should be desilted while anyone caught dumping refuse into the gutters should be arrested and punished.

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Environment

WDC: Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Odu  Call Inclusion Of Woman And Girls Decision Making 

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2 weeks ago

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March 30, 2026

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The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ngozi Nma Odu, has called for greater inclusion of women and girls in decision-making processes across all sectors, stressing that amplifying their voices is critical to national development.
Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. (Mrs.) Ngozi Nma Odu (Right), Launching the CIFAL Nigeria’s Voices of Experiences during the Mentoring the Next Generation and Joint Commemoration of UN International Women’s Day and World Water Day at the Rivers State University Complex,
She made the call during the launch of the “Voices of Experience” mentorship programme and the joint commemoration of the International Women’s Day and World Water Day at Rivers State University on Tuesday.
Odu underscored the burdens borne by women, particularly in rural communities, where they play central roles in water sourcing and food production. She reaffirmed support for initiatives that promote gender advocacy, noting that women’s lived realities must inform policies.
She also stressed the need to sustain the 30 per cent affirmative action for women’s inclusion, urging women to emulate pioneers such as Margaret Ekpo and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who championed women’s rights in Nigeria’s past.
Drawing from local experience, Odu recounted how women in Egi community mobilised to demand change by peacefully protesting at an oil facility, demonstrating the power of collective action.
She further advocated partnerships with CIFAL Nigeria and UNITAR to deepen mentorship for young people, noting that such collaborations are essential for building inclusive governance and transferring values to future generations.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Isaac Zeb-Obipi, emphasised the need to recognise women’s contributions globally, particularly in water management. He called for increased investment in women’s education and empowerment to ensure access to clean water.
Zeb-Obipi also pledged to align the institution’s academic and research activities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while commending CIFAL Nigeria for its innovative programmes.
In her keynote address titled Inclusive Leadership: Building Institutions that Reflect All Voices, former Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari, lamented declining female political representation. She noted that women’s participation, which rose from 1.8 per cent in 1999 to about 8 per cent in 2007, has dropped to roughly 4 per cent.
According to her, the issue is not participation but systemic exclusion, describing it as “a justice problem.” She also decried barriers facing youths and persons with disabilities, including limited access to leadership opportunities and inclusive education systems.
Director of CIFAL Nigeria, Ihuoma Njemanze, said the centre aims to bridge generational gaps by engaging young people—particularly digital natives—in conversations on women’s empowerment and sustainable development.
She disclosed plans to create platforms for dialogue, global exchanges and capacity-building initiatives aligned with UN goals.
Also speaking, Herritta Ogan identified cultural and institutional barriers as persistent obstacles to women’s advancement, while highlighting weak mentorship among women as a critical gap.
The event featured mentorship sessions, panel discussions and award presentations, reinforcing calls for inclusive leadership and sustained advocacy for gender equality.
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Environment

FG Alls For stronger Partnerships, Women Inclusion In Water Governance

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2 weeks ago

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March 30, 2026

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The Federal Government has called for stronger collaborations and increased participation of women in water governance to ensure equitable access to water and sanitation nationwide.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made the call at a news conference to commemorate the 2026 World Water Day.
He said the day, instituted by the United Nations, highlights the importance of freshwater and promotes sustainable management of water resources globally.
Utsev noted that the theme, “Water and Gender: Where Water Flows, Equality Grows,” underscores the link between water access, sanitation and gender equality, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 and 6.
The minister stressed that inclusive governance and women’s participation are essential for sustainable development and national growth.
Utsev said the ministry had constructed and rehabilitated over 6,700 water schemes, providing safe drinking water to more than 32 million Nigerians.
“Rural interventions have benefited over two million people, while about 500 additional projects were implemented across Benue, Jigawa, Gombe, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Ogun, and Niger states.
According to the minister, the ministry has completed two National Water Quality Reference Laboratories in Asaba and Umuahia to enhance monitoring and protect public health.
“The Dadin Kowa irrigation scheme delivered 2,000 hectares of land to farmers, including women, while micro-irrigation projects were completed in Jigawa, Oyo, and Kwara, with additional schemes underway in Kebbi,” Utsev said.
“Other dams recording progress include Mangu, Adada, and Ogbesse, while Alau Dam in Borno is being strengthened to improve flood control and water supply to Maiduguri,” he added.
The minister said the National Water Resources Institute had trained over 1,500 youths in plumbing, drilling, and water technology, while 24 water-use licences were issued to ensure equitable allocation of resources.
He noted that River Basin Development Authorities had developed over 154,000 hectares of irrigable land, benefiting more than 1.6 million farmers.
Utsev reaffirmed government’s commitment to inclusive water access and dignified sanitation, urging all stakeholders to collaborate to ensure no one is left behind.
“Water must become a force for equality, empowerment, and sustainable development,” he said, commending development partners, state governments, civil society organisations, and traditional institutions for their support.
He stressed that sustained investment, stronger coordination across federal, state, and local levels, and political will are key priorities, with women’s meaningful participation in planning and decision-making central to success.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Emanso Umobong, said World Water Day highlights the critical link between water and gender, noting that access to safe water directly affects women’s health, education, and economic empowerment.
Umobong was represented by Dr Adebiyi Tajudeen, Director, Finance and Accounts Department in the ministry.
She said gender-responsive water systems are essential to equitable and inclusive societies, and thanked development partners, civil society, and the diplomatic community for their support.
Umobong added that advancing water and sanitation is a direct pathway to achieving SDG 6 and SDG 5, emphasising that gender-inclusive governance strengthens system sustainability and resilience.
She outlined strategies including gender-responsive planning, targeted financing for schools and health facilities, robust data systems, and partnerships promoting women’s leadership at all levels.
“World Water Day is not merely ceremonial; it is a global call to action,” she said, urging stakeholders to amplify the message: “When water flows, equality grows”.
She added that tangible projects demonstrate the impact of gender-responsive water governance, citing functioning schools, operational clinics, thriving markets, and resilient communities.
Highlights of the event included the presentation of the 2026 UN World Water Development Report, Water for All People: Equal Rights and Opportunities, by Dr Enang Momah from UNESCO.
The report said gender inequalities undermine global water security, disproportionately affecting women and girls, who, in spite of managing household water, remain underrepresented in governance and technical roles.
“Unequal access also affects health, education, livelihoods, and safety, currently, 2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water, with women and girls spending 250 million hours daily collecting it”.
The report warned that climate change, water scarcity, and disasters worsen these inequalities, calling for stronger action to ensure equal rights, participation, and opportunities in water management.
The Tide source reports that a sensitisation and awareness campaign was held at the Lugbe axis to promote safe water use, especially among vulnerable populations.
The event also featured the distribution of sanitary products to women and girls, as well as the presentation of trophies to winners of the hygiene video skit competition.
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Environment

Environmentalists Raise Alarm As World Loses 10m

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2 weeks ago

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March 30, 2026

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Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, on Thursday raised concerns over accelerating global deforestation, revealing that an estimated 10 million hectares of forests are lost every year.
Ezemonye raised the concern during activities marking the International Day of Forests at the university in Edo.
According to him, the level of deforestation poses far-reaching environmental and socio-economic threats.
Ezemonye said that Nigeria was not insulated from the trend, citing data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation which ranked the country among those with the highest deforestation rates in Africa.
“The consequences of this loss are grave,” he said, pointing to rising cases of flooding, desertification, ecosystem collapse, displacement of communities and the worsening impacts of climate change.
Describing the annual observance as more than ceremonial, Ezemonye said it should serve as a rallying point for urgent action.
He added that universities must play a central role as “custodians of knowledge and incubators of solutions.”
The V-C reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to environmental sustainability, emphasising that it remained a core institutional value beyond academic discourse.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Victor Otamere, said “protecting the forests is protecting our lives.”
Adams said that the state government had taken steps to safeguard forest resources, including the establishment of the Edo Forestry Commission.
The Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Mr Valentine Asuen, represented by Area Forest Officer for Ovia North East, Mrs Joan Omosigho, acknowledged the mounting pressure on forest resources and urged Nigerians to take responsibility for its protection.
Nwangwu listed the activities to include agricultural expansion, urbanisation and illegal logging.
He urged participants to move beyond rhetoric and commit to practical actions that would reverse environmental degradation.
The Tide reports that event, themed “Forests and Economies”, drew attention to the critical role forests play in sustaining livelihoods and supporting global economic systems.
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