Anxiety, preparations as NEMA predicts another flood of fury

The period between July and November 2012, remains one some families in 30 states of the federation would love to erase from their memories forever, owing to the untold pains they were immersed in.

It was the period that an unprecedented flood, the worst in the country in 40 years, spread to 30 of the country’s 36 states, and led to the death of 431 persons, while over two million were displaced from their homes. Massive farmlands were also not spared the devastation, which also washed away means of livelihood. The economic losses occasioned by the flood was put at about N2.6 trillion.

The lethal flood, which affected five of the six geo-political zones of the country, saw Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, and Benue states being the worst hit states. Some other states that were tormented by the flood included Borno, Nassarawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina, Kebbi, Cross River and Ebonyi states. Niger, Kaduna and Kano states took turns to experience the flood menace in September of that year, before Delta and Bayelsa joined the sorrowful lot in September and October.

The sheer magnitude of that flood, which was occasioned by heavy rains, that caused major rivers like River Niger and River Benue to burst their banks, left vast stretches of country under water for lengthy periods, with the displaced residents practically begging for food as assistance from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and efforts of the Nigerian Red Cross (NRC), were of little consequence.

So pathetic was the condition of the homeless people that when the then president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, visited some of the locations, he described the situation as a “national disaster.”

He consequently empanelled a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, to raise funds to complement government’s efforts at alleviating the pains of the affected people.

The committee, apart from ensuring the provision of relief to flood victims across the country, and carrying out the post-impact rehabilitation of affected persons and communities, was also expected to advise government on the judicious utilisation of funds raised.

Additionally, the committee, which had one year to conclude its task, was also authorised by Jonathan to co-opt any other persons or organisations that it may find useful in carrying out its assignment.

Despite being co-chaired by Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Olisa Agbakoba, and having heavyweights like Mike Adenuga (Jnr), as chief fund mobiliser, billionaires Karami Isiaku Rabiu, Mohammed Indimi, and Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, as members, hundreds of thousands of the flood victims still insist that their lot, worsened by the that unfortunate incident, was never made better by the committee empanelled by Jonathan. Indeed, they still harbour the view that the post-impact rehabilitation meant nothing to them.

Sadly, as they struggle to rebuild their thoroughly disrupted lives, some of them back to the exact locations, where the flood sacked them, the red flag has again been raised.

In the fresh warning to communities along the River Niger, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has urged 11 state governments to take pro-active action against imminent flooding.

A statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, Public Relations Unit, National Weather Forecasting and Climate Research Centre of NIMET, Eva Azinge, read inter alia; “The affected States include: Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara.”

It added that NIMET had predicted flooding in the 11 states due to the cumulative high intensity rainfall in those parts of the country in June and July, adding that with the current rainfall, there were prospects of flooding in August and October.

“After thorough analyses of rainfall data from our observatories nationwide for June and July, soil moisture has either reached saturation, or near saturation levels… This is due to cumulative high intensity rainfall in some parts of the country in June and July.

“This means that floods should be expected in these areas because the soil is no longer able to absorb more rainwater in the coming weeks which coincide with the peak rainy season.”

The agency contended that, “Flooding could still be experienced in such areas; particularly those that are naturally prone to flooding.’’

The agency recalled that the 2016 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP), identified parts of the North West, South West and low-lying areas, as particularly vulnerable to flooding during the 2016 rainy season.

“These observations and projections are also in agreement with the 2016 Annual Flood Outlook that was released by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.

“NIMET advises governments, communities and individuals in these vulnerable parts of the country to take proactive actions, such as clearing water channels, drainages and avoid activities that will block the free flow of waters.

“Governments, communities and individuals in these vulnerable parts of the country are advised to take proactive actions, such as clearing water channels and drainages, and also avoid activities that block the free flow of water.

Closer attention should also be paid to NIMET’s daily weather forecasts and alerts,” the statement added.

The agency assured that it will continue to “monitor the rainfall pattern as well as general weather conditions across the country and issue updates from time to time.”

Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, added to the grim-looking scenario, when he said that the agency has received alerts of the flood from information given by the authorities in the Republic of Niger that the present water level in the river has reached a point that may give birth to flooding in the magnitude of that of 2012.

“Niger Basin Authority (NBA) notified Nigeria that rainy season, which started in the Middle Niger (Burkina Faso and Niger Republic) in June, 2016, has led to a gradual rise of the level of River Niger in Niamey, Niger Republic. This high level of water in Niger Republic is already spreading to Benin Republic, and invariably, to Nigeria,” Sidi said.

He further explained that the level of water in all the hydrological monitoring stations across the country, as at Friday, August 5th, 2016, have already pointed to the fact that prompt and coordinated action of all governments and stakeholders was imperative.

“If the heavy rainfall continues in intensity and duration within these regions of the River Niger, it is imminent that flood situation similar to that of the year 2012 may occur.”

In the light of the above scenario, the NEMA boss called on all stakeholders to take appropriate actions, in line with their various mandates, while also tasking states and local government areas to ensure compliance in a bid to avert imminent loss of lives and properties that may crop up in the event of flood.

Cross River: Serial Sufferer In The Lurch
In Cross River State, flooding has been a perennial problem, leading to the sack of some communities with Agwagune and Ejar communities in Biase and Obubra local councils being some of the worst hit communities.

In Agwagune, which was gradually and systematically being washed away by flood, the 2012 flood, only succeeded in adding to an already bad scenario. Because of its 45-year long history of battering by flood, and incessant land slides, the Federal Government’s intervention two years ago, led to the building of 300 housing units on higher grounds. Most of the houses are between 70 to 90 per cent completion, and they are located about one kilometre from the original village.

At the moment, some of those displaced by the 2012 flood are back there pending the completion of the government-funded structures, which have been delayed owing to paucity of funds, while many others are squatting with friends and relatives in different locations across the state.

In Agwagune community, which can only be accessed by hand-dug canoes during the rainy season, over 300 houses, including churches and schools have been destroyed by natural disasters, and over 1, 200 households, and 10,600 persons displaced over time.

One of the flood victims, Mr. Peter Onor, while speaking of the state and federal-government funded housing project said; “We are happy that government is trying to relocate us since our community was sacked by flood, but I am appealing that effort should made to fast track the completion of the housing units.”

Ejar, one of the communities located along the coastline of the Cross River, was completely overwhelmed by the 2012 flood. Over 70 houses were destroyed here and 210 families, consisting of 1, 874 persons displaced.

According to the Deputy Director (Information), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. David Akate, in 2013, the Liyel Imoke-led government availed the community building materials to build their own houses on safer grounds.

To date, a good number of the victims are still living in the locations, where they were assailed, by the killer flood in 2012, and they are complaining of insufficient materials to complete the houses just as they appealed to government for further assistance.

There are 212 flood prone communities in the state and the most vulnerable ones are in Odukpani, Biase Abi, Ikom, Etung, Ogoja, Yala and Obubra local councils.

However, it appears that Cross River State communities may be caught unawares again by the impending flood, if the state government fails to spearhead radical moves to contain the impending flood.

This is because, according to the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Joe Obi-Bissong, since NEMA raised the red flag, “What the state government is doing now is to identify all the erosion prone areas. Once these areas have been identified, government intends to have a liaison with the Federal Ministry of Environment to see how they can intervene in the impending crisis with a view to mitigating the impending disaster. So, the government is doing a thorough study of the erosion site areas and will come out with a comprehensive blue print on it.”

On the part of SEMA, Akate said, “We have carried out adequate sensitisation and have created sufficient awareness. Government is also telling communities what measures to take when they see early signs of flooding. This includes, carrying out emergency harvest on their farmlands and relocating immediately.

He, however added that there is “no specific place provided by government for resettlement if the impending flood finally arrives, but communities have been advised to move into public buildings like schools, town halls etc, since no one can stop natural disaster.”

Kogi Moves To Mitigate Losses, Fatalities
Ibrahim Momoh, a flood disaster victim in 2012 and 2015 could not contain his emotions as he recalled the ordeal he and others went through after they were rendered homeless by the ravaging flood in the state.

After the incidents, the Idris Wada-led state government embarked on the construction of a Flood Victims’ Housing Estate. It, however, took Momoh and other victims staging a “Save Our Souls” protest at the gate of the office of the former Deputy Governor of the state, Yomi Awoniyi, before they were allocated the apartments, which had been taken over by physically challenged persons, security officers and even sex workers, before they were forcefully evicted last year.

Momoh, who explained that currently, about 270 flood victims have taken possession of their apartments in the estate after they paid a non-refundable fee of N20, 000 said, “When we wanted to take over our allocated apartments, we discovered that some persons who were not flood victims had already taken possession of the estate. So, we kept disturbing government until the Wada-led administration drove away the squatters from the estate and we were given our allocation papers and the clearance. Some of us are now residing in the estate. But some illegal occupants are still living in some of the houses yet to be allocated to victims in the estate.

Sadly, despite being a flood victim, and inspite of the warning by NEMA, Momoh claims that water level at the moment cannot constitute any cause for alarm, saying that this year he is convinced flood would not ravage the state.

But the Executive Secretary of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ayegba Alhassan, thinks otherwise, which is why he has raised the alarm over the rising level of River Niger and Benue in Lokoja.

He has also asked people living by the riverbank to immediately relocate upland to avoid being swept away by the impending flood.

Alhassan’s alarm is coming barely a week after the state’s Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, issued a similar alert on the rising water level, which he said was increasing geometrically.

While leading the agency on a visit to Yagba East and Okehi local councils during an assessment of 205 households who were victims of rainstorm in the area, Alhassan, called on residents of coastal communities to start moving upland, adding that they should not wait until they are swept away.

According to him, “As at yesterday we had about 7.5m water level and that calls for serious concern. Lokoja Local Council had a seminar on the issue and they had gone out to enlighten all the vulnerable communities.”

The executive secretary informed that the agency has sent contingents out to Ibaji and other eight vulnerable local councils to sensitise, survey and map out on possible safe areas for camping if the inevitable occurs.

“We have not gotten a camp yet. We want to prepare a place and see what government can do in the next one week. Right now, there is no case of flood anywhere yet,” he stated, adding that, “The water level at present is about 7.45m and the red alert level is 9m. We have not yet reached that level, but the fear is that it can increase suddenly depending on the release of water from other dams such as Lado Dam in Cameroun that could swell the water level within a twinkle of an eye.”

He continued, “Really, when you are talking of movement, there is actually no place like home. Some of these people just came to settle at the riverbank to farm and at the end of farming season, they go back. But because of the flood that is coming, we expect such people to move to their homes while we try to create camps for others.

“You remember in 2012, we had a very bad experience when the internally displaced persons refused to vacate the primary schools after they were asked to move out. Government will not want a repeat of such, and that is why we are preparing temporary camps, whereby at the end of the day, everybody will move out.”

He said tentatively, the government was trying to put in place not less than nine camps, which will translate to one for each of the vulnerable local council areas. But for local councils like Ibaji, you don’t expect them to have one camp because the management of such camp would be too cumbersome. They will require more than one camp. Depending on the occurrence and incidence, we may have about two or three for such councils including Bassa, where we have similar issue.”

On how swift all these plans can be actualised, he said, “You know government cannot go into mobilisation without having the real plan. That is why government has also thought it wise to go out and take the statistics of those who might likely be affected

“We are working with the National Population Commission to get the real figures of the population of the vulnerable communities along the river bank so that we can have a holistic plan for them. I think the government is doing well in that direction.”

Speaking on behalf of the NEMA DG at a one-day awareness creation workshop at Government House, Lokoja, recently, Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, Dr. Onimode Abdullahi Bandelele, said the agency was only giving alerts on possible flooding situation within the year in the state so that residents would be prepared for any eventuality.

Explaining other circumstances that may give rise to the imminent flood, he said; “The duration of rain that we get may be shorter, the intensity may be higher so this will make percolation more difficult, hydrological runoff becomes higher leading to flooding, especially in places where these runoff becomes higher and do not have the right of passage.”

He added that the building of houses across parts of flood plains, the blockage of culverts, canals and so on may still lead to flooding. So, “Preparing for flood starts with you and I. Your refuse should be disposed off very well and regularly. Your drainages cleared, ensure that your neighbour that is building a house uphill does not turn you downhill to a victim, when the rains starts.”

Niger planning ahead of doomsday
Following the alert raised by NEMA, Niger State has began the relocation of communities from flood prone areas to avoid the experience of 2012, where over 1, 000 communities, and goods worth billions of naira were washed away by flash floods.

The government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa, said that the warning had become necessary in view of its determination to avert a situation, where its people loose their lives and property as a result of the flash floods.

The government, which said it was aware of the traditional and religious attachment of the people to their ancestral homes, stressed that this notwithstanding, their safety was of paramount importance to the administration.

“Niger State government is deeply concerned, especially now that the Nigeria Metrological Agency has warned of impending flood disasters in some states, which Niger State is also listed. We are calling on the people to be careful and not to allow the flood to come before taking any measure safety.”

According to Vatsa, “We understand the attachment that some of the riverine communities have to their ancestral homes because of their vocations, mostly fishing and farming. But we are advising them to, at least move away until the riverbanks are free from overflow.

“We are aware that the people living downstream of Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams are often more vulnerable. The government is appealing to them to move upland till the rain subsides because we cannot afford the kind of loss recorded in the past,” he added.

Some communities that have relocated are Gbako, Lavun, Mokwa, Borgu and Lapai local councils. And so far, over 140 communities and villages have relocated from their present flood-prone locations.

According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), all the affected communities will be camped at houses constructed by the presidential committee headed by Aliko Dangote, which spread across all the communities.

The Director General of NSEMA, Mallam Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, told The Guardian in Minna that because of the experience of 2012, the agency decided to embark on early warning, saying that the traditional institutions, community-based organisation (CBOs), and other relevant agencies are being mobilised to help in the enlightenment campaign.

The agency, which put the total cost of property, including farm produce, farm lands and houses lost to the 2012 flood at about N1b, added that the 147 communities that were badly affected in the disaster, cut across about 10 local councils of the state, and mostly food producing areas.

He added that, “Apart from those communities at Shiroro Jebba and Kainji dams that had both their houses and farm lands washed away by the excess water from these dams, the rest communities were victims of the global flood which experts said was the worst in 40 years.”

Kano Already A City ‘Under Water’

In Kano, a preview of what may be in the offing for residents of the ancient city appears to be playing out with over 3, 000 residents currently dislodged and property worth millions of naira destroyed by flood in the last two weeks.

Last week, the state-owned Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, saw both its male and female wards overtaken by floodwater, after a heavy downpour, which displaced several in-patients in the medical facility.

Many government buildings, including the Kano Pension Trust Fund, and the State Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation Agency, both located on Sokoto road in the metropolis, were not spared the menace.

The heavy downpour also left major roads in the Kano metropolis, including the newly rehabilitated Zaria Road, Silver Jubilee, Murtala Muhammed Way, Ibrahim Taiwo and Hadiga roads all under the water.

Residents of No Man’s Land Quarters, are also already feeling the pangs of flood water, as the area, prone to flood for several years, with little or no intervention from concerned authorities was severely battered.

Mr. Austin Okechukwu, one of the residents of the quarters is still counting his losses, which he claims runs into millions of naira after just four hours of intermittent rain.

Beyond the city centre, communities in Bugwai, Shannonu, Kiru, Arun-Mallam, Warawa and Dawakin-Kudu local councils are also still counting their losses.

What is making the Kano situation very worrisome is the fact that information from the state emergency agency indicates that about 300 locals lost their farmlands, harvest and property to the flood in Warawa and Garun-Mallam in June alone.

In first week of August, flood also washed away farmlands and blew-off houses of 400 residents of Bebeji local council area, while 196 residents of Konar Dangora in Kiru recorded degrees of losses.

Executive secretary of the state relief agency, Aliyu Bashir Mekel, while reaffirming government’s determination to check the impact of flood in Kano, attributed the cause of incessant flooding in the city to illegal construction along waterways.

Aliyu added that since the state received the early warning signals of imminent flooding from NIMET, and subsequent media sensitisation, the laxity, which flood victims have displayed and their inability to take caution is regrettable.

“We have made several sensitisation on media for people to clear their drainages and desist from dumping refuse on water ways, which eventually leads to flooding, but you will be surprised people don’t take caution.

“We have noticed dumping of rubbish in the waters and construction of building on illegal places. These are things that are causing problem. We shall continue to talk to people.”

On those leaving along riverbank, Aliyu said that the state government has urged them to relocate to higher land to save their lives and valuables.

While revealing that records of flood victims were being collated and would soon be forwarded to government for necessary assistance, he disclosed plans to disburse the N2.3m recently approved by the state government to 84 victims of flood at Warawa local council.

Kano was part of states devastated by the 2012 flood. One of the major government interventions was the construction of 70 units of low cost housing for Warawa local council, which was one of the worst hit councils.

However, some of the apartments are yet to be occupied since completion, due to controversy generated by the formula used in the allocation of the houses.

A native of Warawa, Aminu Dan Alhasan told The Guardian that government allocated single units of accommodation, ordinarily meant for one family to three families, thereby triggering dispute in the community.

But Aliyu, who said that the houses were built in phases, noted that more houses would be completed soon to meet the accommodation needs of those that are yet to benefit from the allocation.