Information Minister, Labaran Maku, has isolated environmental degradation as one of the greatest threats to the Niger Delta region.
Land degradation in the Niger Delta
Maku made the submission in Abuja during a visit to the Civil Defence Academy, at the continuation of 2012 National Good Governance Tour.
He listed other threats to the region to include pipeline vandalisation, illegal refineries and bust pipes. According to him, illegal refineries in the Niger Delta have an adverse effect on the environment.
His words: “Any community that thinks that it can vandalise pipeline is really causing havoc. Our forefathers left behind a good and safe environment for us. The pollution and contamination that is coming from the Niger Delta is great. If the communities do not stop vandalisation, it will cause great danger to the future of the people of Niger Delta. So it is in the interest of those communities and the nation to stop the destructions they are doing to the Niger Delta area.”
He assured Nigerians of the commitment of the Federal Government in tackling the challenges of environmental degradation in that region, even as he commended the Commandant, Civil Defence Academy, Ade Abolurin, for his performance. He tasked all public office to make judicious use of government funding like Abolurin did.
Earlier, the entourage inspected the Inner Southern Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory, which was awarded at a cost of N13 billion in November 2010. The project, which is 65 percent accomplished, comprises four interchanges, out of which three have been completed.
FCT (Federal Capital Territory) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, said the 3.8km road is aimed at reducing traffic congestion within the city centre. He said that, when completed, the project would reduce pressure on roads in the city centre, especially for those travelling to the airport from Nasarawa State and the South West part of the city.
National Planning Minister, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, said that, under the Performance Contract signed with the FCT Minister, the impact of the project on how it has reduced traffic gridlock and the number of hours spent while passing through the city centre to the airport would be measured.
The Federal Government has been called upon to put in place an all-encompassing law to regulate the environment and also address issues that may arise from its breach.
Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun
Head of Department, Akinola Aguda Postgraduate School, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun, made the submission at an inaugural lecture he delivered. It is titled: “Mounful Remedies, Endless Conflicts and Inconsistencies in Nigeria’s Quest for Environmental Governance: Rethinking the Legal Possibilities for Sustainability.”
Fagbohun said the lack of adequate and necessary legislations on issues related to the environment is responsible for poor coordination of government agencies in tackling environmental problems as such deficiency lead to overlapping and conflicting roles by different government agencies.
He added that make-shift approach coupled with shortcomings in legislation and overlapping functions of the different agencies saddled with environmental issues in the country are responsible for the haphazard way the organisations carry out their work. He cited the issue of who should control the erection of telecommunication masts, which has pitched Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), the National Environmental Standard Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESRA), Urban Furniture Regulatory Unit (UFRU), and several other state environmental agencies against one another.
The erudite scholar added that, in order to build a robust legal framework for environmental management, all the stakeholders should have an input in such a law, adding that the piecemeal approach to environmental hazards in the country cannot adequately provide the required remedy.
The Research Professor of Law with bias for Environmental Law said that there is little the judiciary could do in addressing injustice arising from environmental issues once the law is inadequate to take care of the sector.
He clamoured a wholesome contribution and commitment of all the three arms of government (Administrative, Legislative and Judicial remedies) to environmental issues as the only solution to the ever increasing threat the damage to the environment poses to human existence.
Large-scale land grants totalling more than 1.5 million acres1 to Sime Darby2 and Golden Veroleum3 for oil palm and rubber plantations jeopardizes land rights of local populations, threatens local livelihoods and wellbeing of communities, and puts the future viability of one of the world’s most significant biodiversity hotspots into doubt.
Monrovia, Liberia
A new report (Uncertain Futures) released, by the Liberian NGO Sustainable Development Institute, presents testimonies of people affected by Sime Darby operations in western Liberia and highlights the fears of others where the company plans to expand in the coming years.
According to the report, “the situation facing communities impacted by the expansion of Sime Darby’s plantation in Garwula District, western Liberia is dire: the plantation is on their doorsteps, and their farms and farmlands are being swallowed up by it. There are very few
alternative livelihood options.”
According to locals interviewed for the report, Sime Darby did not pay compensation for farm lands to them. They also claim that compensation paid for crops that had been destroyed was inadequate and that forest areas used for cultural practices had also been destroyed and planted with oil palm.
In 2009 the Government of Liberia allocated more than half a million acres of land to Sime Darby without consulting or securing the consent of those living on and using the land. Based on reaction of communities in the counties affected by the land grant, it is highly likely that communities and private landowners in these areas will continually challenge implementation of the contract. According to the report, this might lead to Sime Darby and the government using aggressive tactics to ensure that the company continues to expand, which could generate conflicts that then deteriorate into violence.
On the other hand the government and Sime Darby could accept that the contract cannot be implemented without violating the rights of others and therefore renegotiate the terms. Though this will slow down the company’s operation, it could provide an opportunity to rectify past failures by holding proper consultations with private landowners and communities, and for those with an interest in oil palm development on their land to negotiate a fair deal that takes into account their livelihoods and the overall environmental health of their communities.
But, the report cautions that, regardless of how well the contract is negotiated and how much incentive the government and Sime Darby are able to offer, there will inevitably be private land owners, families and communities who will not want to give up their land for oil palm plantation. In such situation the government and Sime Darby would do well to recognise and respect the rights and interests of these groups. This would not only demonstrate a genuine desire to uphold the rule of law on the part of the government, it would also demonstrate that the government puts the interests of its citizens above all else.
Silas Kpanan’Ayoung Siakor, the author of the report, points out that “the situation highlighted by this case study is about much more than the impacts of a single company.” He warns “allocating large swathes of fertile agricultural land to foreign companies for several decades is dangerous, because as these companies expand their plantations communities’ ability to cope will be stretched to the limit, and it will push people further into poverty, as their income generating activities are curtailed and earning capacities become limited”.
“To avoid future conflicts, the government needs to critically examine its policy on land allocation, with a view to reforming the current processes for allocating land to investors, especially in the agricultural sector. The current approach disregards the rights and livelihoods of those that inhabit these lands, and generates conflicts between the companies and the host communities. A new approach that is developed through an inclusive process should allow for those that would be affected by the proposed project to have a greater say in the decisions regarding whether or not the allocation is made. The new approach and processes should be based on the principles of fairness and justice, and backed by appropriate legislation,” the report concludes.
Global warming-induced sea level rise and changes in climatic conditions are posing a serious challenge to the attainment of sustainable development in coastal states in Nigeria, experts have submitted.
Coastal erosion in Lagos
According to them, the devastating effects of recent extreme weather events (such as storm surges) on coastal cities and settlements in the states demonstrate their extreme vulnerability with a high potential to lead to social and economic crises in the region.
The observations were made in a Lagos by a gathering of scientists, administrators, civil society organisations (CSOs) and media practitioners at the Coastal States Climate Change Dialogue, organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in conjunction with the Lagos State Government.
The states involved in the dialogue were: Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.
In a communiqué released at the close of the two-day event, the participants noted that unplanned and poor land use, as well as rapid urbanisation are aggravating the impact of climate change on the coastal and marine environment of the affected states, and increasing their vulnerability in the security of water supplies, increasing risk to existing infrastructure, adverse health effects, and increasing threat to ecosystems and coastal development.
“The effects of climate change-induced sea level rise are transboundary in the nature and will affect the states in different but interlinked ways. It is, therefore, imperative for states to come together in forging a collective response to the crisis of climate change in the coastal region of Nigeria.”
As a way out of the impasse, the forum recommended that the concerned eight states should immediately establish a functional network for the sharing of best practices about adaptation options for coastal zone management.
The states were likewise urged to undertake in-depth research to determine the vulnerability of their coastal and marine environment to anticipated global warming-induced sea level rise.
“States should adopt a regional approach to addressing the impact of climate change through a well-established regional cooperation mechanism. To do this effectively, each state should develop action-oriented mitigation and adaptation strategies and activities to address the challenges of sea level rise-induced flooding. State-specific strategies, derived from the relevant sections of the National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy, should then be integrated into a regional strategy and action plan for a coordinated implementation.”
The states were further advised to build their capacities so as to enable them have access to global multilateral and bilateral climate change funds that are critical to meet the huge financial resources required to adopt practical, but costly adaptation initiatives required to respond more effectively to the challenges of sea level rise and other extreme weather events-induced flooding in the coastal region of Nigeria.
It was also suggested that regional oceanographic and marine research institutions should be strengthened to undertake evidence-based research and early warning systems should be established to enhance the resilience of the people living in the affected zones.
Deputy Country Director, UNDP, Jan Thomas Hiemestra, stated that the dialogue is aimed at sensitising stakeholders in Nigeria’s coastal areas as a proactive strategic preparedness action plan to forestall future negative consequences of abrupt sea level rise. The lessons learnt from the brainstorming, he added, are envisaged to become a model for other coastal preparedness action plan in Nigeria.
He said, “Although, the different states have been working to address climate change and their actions are taken in support of national governments reaching an international agreement on climate change and in support of implementing the practical actions needed to help to fulfill national and international commitments. But tackling the negative impact of climate change has its financial and environmental cost implications and because of the prohibitive cost of protection, many states might not be able to afford such measures. This is more so that there are many issues the nation has to tackle. The most probable and affordable approach is therefore through sensitisation dialogues on resilience building and vulnerability reduction that is dependent on collaboration amongst the states.”
Lagos State Environment Commissioner, Tunji Bello, lamented that Lagos has in recent times suffered from ocean surge and consequently the degradation of beaches (Alpha and Kuramo) and loss of lives.
“It is against this background that the Lagos State Government has embarked on a number of projects aimed at building internal resilience to the vagaries of ocean surge and other climate change induced conditions,” he said, listing some of such schemes to include the Bar Beach shoreline protection, Eko Atlantic City, dredging of canals, channelisation of drainages, aggressive enlightenment campaigns on the threat of climate change, and best waste management practices.
As the federal and state governments make frantic efforts to tackle the adverse effects of climate change, environmentalists are of the view that regional integration will go a long way to mitigate the effects, writes Kayode Aboyeji
Lagos
Citing previous achievements through regional governments particularly in the first republic, some of which are still thriving till date, environmentalists have suggested regional integrated approach based on the account of national historical experiences to tackle the climate change challenge.
Besides, they argued that climate and the attendant variability do not recognise political boundary but, rather, respond to ecological zonal changes which do not correspond to states in Nigeria.
Generally, regional integration promotes management of shared natural resources including watersheds, mineral deposits, fisheries, and sensitive natural environments that are shared among countries. Also, it enlarges markets through the integration of small economies, thus promoting economies of scale and intensifying competition, leading to lower prices and expanded supply.
In a recent publication titled: “Unlocking North Africa’s Potential through Regional Integration: challenges and opportunities,” the trio of Santi, E., Romdhane,S.B. and Shaw,W noted that regional agreements can provide a “commitment mechanism” for countries’ domestic trade and other policy reforms, reducing the likelihood of policy reversals; effective action to combat infectious diseases, such as HIV/ AIDS and malaria, and vulnerabilities arising from climate change which depend on collaborative efforts among groups of countries.
They added that it also creates preferential reductions in tariffs within regional agreements that can induce shifts in both demand and supply with the net effects on national income that depend on the costs of alternative supply and trade policies toward nonmember countries; encourage bilateral agreements that can attract more FDI by enlarging markets (particularly for “lumpy” investment viable only above a certain size), reducing distortions (depending on policy content) and lowering the marginal cost of production.
They emphasised that regional integration agreements may enable countries to coordinate negotiating positions in international fora, thus raising visibility and possibly increasing bargaining power. Such regional agreements, according to them, may lower the risk of conflict within the region as a result of improved intraregional confidence and trust, common defense arrangements, and interdependence in key aspects of countries’ national development.
Nigeria is one of the countries that are being affected by the effects of climate change caused by global warming. The impacts of the phenomenon are visible across the states vis-a-vis at the regional level. At the moment, the Northern region is facing serious desertification, the Southern part is contending with gully erosion, pollution and other environmental degradation, while the western region is facing massive incidence of floods and ocean surge that has claimed lives and destroyed property, particularly, in Lagos State due to its coastal nature.
Similarly, due to the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, about 15 people lost their lives while close to 250 villages were submerged in the Northern part of the country.
Although some of the state governments are intensifying efforts through various programmes and awareness creation on the danger of abuse to the environment many, however, believe that if there could be regional agreements, it would be easier to integrate the various efforts and address the challenges.
For instance, the floods that affect Lagos State in most cases originate from Ogun, Osun and even Ondo states where some of the rivers have their sources. Similarly, the impact of desert encroachment in the northern part (such as in Bauchi, Gombe and Borno states) cut across geographical boundaries.
Climatologist and lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, said that the Southern, Middle Belt and Northern parts of Nigeria would respond to climate change differently.
According to him, climate and its variability know no political or geographical boundary, but rather responds to ecological zonal changes which do not correspond to states in Nigeria.
Said he: “Regional approach will be an advantage to mitigate the impacts of climate change. For instance, some of the floods in Lagos State originate from Ogun, Osun and even Ondo states where some of the rivers have their sources.
“Oyan River is a typical example. Extreme rainfalls in the upper part of the river normally results in excessive amount of water which forces the Basin Authority to release water from the dam and which consequently floods the Ikorodu/Isheri area of Lagos State.”
Oladipo, who is also one of Nigeria’s international climate negotiators, posited that an inter-state collaboration of the sustainable management of the water resources in the Oyan watershed would be a way out of the problem.
Another proponent of the idea and Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in Osun State, Nigeria, Prof.( Mrs). O.M Oyawoye, noted that though differently, people are already feeling the adverse effect of climate change-flooding, drought, heat, biodiversity loss, livelihoods and reducing food production.
She stressed that while global negotiation and efforts continue, there should be immediate, concerted and collaborative adaptive actions crucial at the national, regional, state, local governments and community levels to address the challenge.
Such actions, she said, would lead to better and effective environmental policy, efficient and effective application of resources – human, material and financial. She noted that they would also create synergy, better economies of scale, strength of unity, better access to national and international benefits and eco-tourism.
On regional cooperation that had worked, she cited the example of the Great Green Wall afforestation initiative to protect sub-Saharan Africa from desertification and afforestation. It entails a cooperation by the 11 frontline states of northern Nigeria and Niger Delta region cooperation to address pollution and environmental degradation challenges peculiar to the region.
She went further: “Regional integration is a process in which states enter into an agreement in order to enhance regional cooperation through institutions and rules. The objectives of the agreement could range from economic to political; although it has generally become a political economy initiative where commercial purposes are the means to achieve broader socio-political objectives.”
Oyawoye recommended regional mitigation and adaptation for the South-west region that would include afforestation plan, urban renewal master plan, early warning system, capacity building and networking and information sharing.
Carty Tan, who works with Millennium Institute, a US-based organisation that is assisting Nigeria to develop the Threshold 21(T21) model to tackle the climate change impact, said it would be appropriate to break Nigeria into three. based on the visible effect of climate change so as to be able to address the challenge.
She said the issue of oil production in the country would have to be considered for any meaningful climate mitigation effort to be recorded.
The Small Grants Programme (SGP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Nigeria has supported the conservation of over 500 indigenous plant species in the country.
Ishii, GEF boss
The GEF-SGP, which is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has also sustained the establishment of Community Forest Management Committees and capacity building for forest protection, which seeks to enhance indigenous knowledge of biodiversity and revive interest in traditional medicinal values of plants species.
UNDP Country Director, Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje, who made the disclosure recently in Abuja during a workshop on capacity building and knowledge development, disclosed that the programme has also supported over 20 climate change mitigation projects addressing awareness creation and teaching simple techniques of rain water harvesting to reduce stress of water and impact of drought; supported Pitcher Irrigation technology for farming; tree planting to regenerate forests which act as sink for C02 and fuel efficient stoves to reduce consumption of fuelwood.
She said: “A total number of 69 projects have been supported to date in 23 states of the federation with a total grant amount of $1,897,869 and $1,370,376 in co-financing.
“Based on the results of these community efforts, two of the projects have won international awards, two have also benefitted from other donors even as the project demonstrate collaborative effort between NGO, community and private sector to address pollution. At least six SGP projects have been either scaled-up or replicated because of their direct contributions to relevant multilateral environmental agreements. Over 50,000 poor rural dwellers, (65 percent women and 35 percent men) have benefitted directly from the projects. Fifty percent of communities have either never experienced or benefitted from any development support or participated in such a way as allowed by SGP.”
According to her, the SGP has also supported projects in several states to address erosion, loss of farmlands to boost food production capacity for modern farming techniques, tree planting, as well as establishment of Skills Acquisition Centre to train beneficiaries especially women, widows and youth on Alternative livelihood activities in order to discourage unsustainable land exploitation.
Head of the organisation in Nigeria, Olabisi Jaji, said the GEF, which was launched in 1992 as a funding window designed specifically for NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and CBOs (community-based organisations) has, through its SGP, made 14,000 small grants directly to these organisations in its 182-member countries.
The programme entails four categories such as full-sized projects (which are from $1 million and above), medium-sized projects (up to $1million dollars), enabling activities ($500,000, $250,000 and $150,000) and small grants (maximum of $50,000).
Climatologist, Prof. Olukayode Oladipo, called on governments around the world to ensure that they pay attention to the United Nation’s declaration on sustainable development, economic growth and human environment which, he said, would lead to economic transformation of their states.
Principles of the UN declaration, according to Oladipo, want states across the world to cooperate and strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technological knowledge and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.
To achieve sustainable development and higher quality of life for all people, states were advised to eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to economic growth.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Taiye Haruna, said NGOs/CBOs have greater roles to play in achieving the objectives of sustainable development and that the huge task facing the world is to determine how to overcome environmental challenges including restoring the natural resources, achieving human health protection and designing strategies to allow for future growth, while protecting the environment, maintaining biodiversity, safeguarding human health and preserving cultural and social values.
“There is no doubt that NGOs/CBOs are making great strides in meeting the environmental challenges, though difficulties and tensions remain common. We all should strive to tackle the environmental challenges facing the nation,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Dr. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF, has hailed the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. According to her, it is a landmark international agreement to protect the earth’s ozone layer and demonstrates the global benefits that can flow from concerted effort and cooperation to address environmental threats.
The ozone layer in the earth’s upper atmosphere protects living things from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. The phase-out of industrial chemicals under the Montreal Protocol has resulted not only in the recovery of the ozone layer but also has reduced greenhouse gas emissions that contribute significantly to climate change.
The GEF-SGP is the third component of the GEF which provides grants to poor and marginalised communities through national NGOs/CBOs to implement local environmental initiatives that also enhance their livelihood while achieving global environmental benefits. GEF-SGP operates in five focal areas of Biodiversity, Climate Change, Land Degradation, International Waters and Persistent Organic Pollutants. Many of the projects are pilot in nature to demonstrate feasibility of environmental initiatives through community effort to achieve global environmental benefits.
The NGO Coalition for Environment (NGOCE), an environmental network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) with over 45 members based in Nigeria, has been selected as the new Africa observer organisation to the UN-REDD Policy Board.
The Bank Information Centre (BIC), which made the disclosure on behalf of the UN-REDD Programme and the Independent Advisory Group on Forests, Rights and Climate Change, stated that the NGOCE is one of the four newly-selected civil society organisation (CSO) observers – one to represent each of the regions where UN-REDD works, and one for the developed countries.
The NGOCE has as its primary focus the protection of the Cross River State environment, which encompasses the last remaining tropical rainforest in Nigeria, 90 percent of which is located in Cross River State, as well as the mangrove ecosystem.
For Asia, the new observer organisation is the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), an independent non-profit CSO based in Pakistan that serves as a source of expertise for policy analysis and development, policy intervention, and policy and program advisory services.
For Latin America, the new observer organisation is the Ut’z Che’Association, a Guatemalan umbrella organization of 36 community-based indigenous and farmers’ organisations representing some 30,000 members. Ut’z Che’ is also a member of the National Climate Change Table and the National Alliance of Community Forestry Organisations.
For the developed countries, the winner is the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), based in the USA. EDF works on the most urgent environmental threats to the climate, oceans, ecosystems and people’s health. EDF has over 700,000 members who provide financial support. EDF has a strong domestic focus for its on-the-ground programs, but its International Program focuses on the UNFCCC negotiations, related policy making fora, and the large International Financial Institutions such as the World Bank.
The term of the newly selected CSO representatives begins with the 9th UN-REDD Policy Board meeting in the Republic of Congo in October 2012.
The BIC declared: “We’d like to thank all of the CSOs who were nominated for the observer positions and all the groups who participated in the selection process.”
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), civil society and community-based groups across the country have called on the Nigerian government to demonstrate commitment to reducing carbon emissions and deforestation by developing a national programme on renewable energy and promotion of non-grind energy that local communities should be integrated into.
The groups made the demand at a recent workshop convened by ERA/FoEN in Benin City, the Edo State capital, to present the research findings of a baseline study conducted to ascertain the energy consumption patterns in rural communities in Nigeria. Participants were from Delta, Edo and Ekiti states as well as community-based organisations and civil society.
In a communique issued at the end of the workshop, the groups demanded that the Federal Government deploy a substantial portion of Nigeria’s ecological funds to renewable energy projects in the states to address climate change and energy poverty especially in rural communities.
Participants underlined the need for government to put in place mechanisms to replace kerosene lamps and other inefficient energy sources used in households while involving communities in plans to provide affordable, reliable and efficient renewable energy products. Civil society organisations were also urged to provide community level renewable energy service.
“The time is ripe for the Nigerian government to move beyond mere talks and shift from fossil fuel based energy sources to renewables such as solar, wind turbines, and mini-hydro projects that are off-grid and in tune with local production, supply and maintenance. These require no gigantic infrastructure,” said ERA/FoEN Director, Programmes & Administration, Godwin Ojo.
Ojo explained that such community energy model would eliminate energy monopolies and decentralise energy uses in remote communities, even as he added that such a model has become necessary because Nigeria’s current energy plans are concentrated on urban centres to the neglect of rural communities.
“Community energy plans will enable the rural communities’ access to new technologies such as solar and wind, among others. Incentives such as interest-free loans, grants and social marketing strategies to orient the local people to invest in renewable sources of energy should also be in place.”
The Federal Government has disclosed that Taraba State has so far recorded 13,428 internally displaced people and 30 communities submerged in water.
Bridge linking Nassarawa State with Taraba State destroyed by the flood
Spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushau Shuaib, disclosed in Abuja that the affected communities are in Ibi and Wukari Local Government Councils of the state.
He said that while the agency was conducting a rapid response assessment during the tours of the councils, it was discovered that bridges linking various communities were cut off by the flood due to overflow of River Benue as well as the release of water from the Kiri Dam in Adamawa State and from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroun.
A village submerged in Taraba State
Places of worship, farmlands, hospitals, schools and markets are affected. Some of the communities can only be reached by canoes and boats as rescue and emergency officers have so far visited critically affected areas such as Chinkai, Ando-yako, Warawa, Dampar, Ibi town, Badodo, Chaschangi, Isini, Mai itache, unguwan danbaki,Sai, Gungun Abdullahi Unguwan makeri, Wazirin bannu, Sai Danpar-unguwan saraki, Unguwan Kabawa, Sarkin Noma, Unguwan Maisanko, Baruwa and Unguwan Nufawac.
Traditional ruler of Ibi, Alhaji Abubakar Danbawo III, said: “For the past 38 years, we have never witnessed a disaster of this magnitude that touched everything: places of worship, houses, roads and farmlands.”
The NEMA officers are still at camps in Danpar, Chinkai and Ibi, reportedly registering and providing relief materials to the displaced people.
Fears and apprehension have been the order of the day in several cities along the course of major rivers nationwide, no thanks to the rampaging floods.
Flooding in Plateau State
For instance, concerns have heightened in the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State and the neighbouring Asaba in Delta State, which is just by the other side of the River Niger. States such as Kogi, Kwara and Niger are not exempted from the disaster, which was preceded by a warning by the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) that the river would over flow its banks and cause severe devastation along its coastal line.
In Anambra State, Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA), Uga Junction, Atani and Okpoko Area are seriously affected by the flood, leaving behind a tale of woes as it ravaged over 750 hectares of rice and yam farmland and submerged four other communities in Ayamelum in Anambra West LGAs.
Residents of the communities, which are close to the confluence of Omabala and Niger rivers, were said to have woken up two days ago to behold their farmlands submerged by the flood.
In Niger State, the flood was said to have affected 14 of the 25 LGAs in the state.
Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Authority (NSEMA), Mohammed Saba, said in Minna on Friday that the greatest challenge facing the agency in the state is the refusal of most communities to vacate flood plains due to agricultural potentials.
“We have been trying to evacuate communities along the river banks we consider vulnerable to flood but the greatest challenge we are having is that many of them are not willing to leave the flood plains for a safer havens,” Saba said.
According to him, communities living along the river banks have rejected the offer to move to higher grounds to avoid being washed away by the flood.
In Kwara State, the government has asked residents of Kosubosu and Jebba communities on the banks of the River Niger to relocate so as to avoid being submerged.
The NEMA had, as a result of the continued threat by the river, issued an alert, urging those living along the river’s coastline in the state to relocate. The organisation said that there is a risk of flooding from Jebba and Kainji dams and advised the affected state to evacuate the people within the area the flood may affect.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Samuel Bamisaiye, in an interview, said the government did not want any resident in the state to suffer flood disaster forecast hence the call on the people to vacate the banks of the river.
The dreaded, but long-awaited impact of the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun has finally reached Cross River State, where at least 49 communities in seven LGAs of the state have been flooded.
The communities are in the riverside areas of the state, according to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which gave the names of the affected LGAs as Yala, Ogoja, Ikom, Obubra, Abi, Biase and Odukpani.
Director-General, Cross River SEMA, Vincent Aquah, who assessed the extent of flooding and its accompanying damages, told journalists that the 49 communities are currently endangered and could face more intensive flooding as the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon swells rivers.
“The communities are experiencing unprecedented flooding which have submerged thousands of farms such as yams, cassava, vegetable cocoyam, melons and other cash crops worth millions of naira.
“Hundreds of houses are inundated with the flood while over 10,000 livestock have been affected,” the SEMA boss said.
Aquah expressed fears that the magnitude and severity of damage to lives and property would increase as the level of flood rises.
He expressed fears that the concomitant effect of the flooding could be extreme famine that would visit the agrarian communities as a result of the destruction of their farms by the flood.
He said so many people would be displaced from their homes as many people and families are already relocating to make-shift shelters.
“As you can see, these conditions are far below human standard particularly living in a slum such as this thatch house. Children and women are suffering and there is an urgent need to address the situation before it gets out of hand,” Aquah said.
He appealed to the Federal Government and international organisations to come to the aid of the state government as it apparently has no financial capacity to effectively manage the situation alone.
Aquah said SEMA had, immediately after the warning of the possible release of water from Lagdo Dam by Cameroun, embarked on sensitisation campaign in all the communities along the coastline being affected by the flood.
He said the people living in the areas prone to flooding as a result of the release of water from the dam have been advised to relocate to highland areas as an immediate safety measure against the loss of human lives as well as domestic animals.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has constituted a five-man technical committee to assess and determine the extent of damage caused by recent flooding occurrences in some states of the federation, particularly, Plateau, Jigawa, Adamawa, Benue and Kogi states.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, constituted the committee on behalf of the Federal Government on Saturday in Abuja.
