By Clement Adeyi, Cross Udo, Ben Adoga, Kenny Folowosele, David and Anthony Otaru
President Bola Tinubu assured the people of Borno State yesterday that under his leadership, the federal government would stand with them and other federation states that have experienced flood disasters to cushion their immediate sufferings.
Tinubu stated this when he paid a sympathy visit to Governor Babagana Zulum, the Shehu of Borno, Dr Abubakar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi, and the victims of the flood disaster which has displaced over two million people, with so many lives lost and property worth billions of naira.
Addressing some of the victims who took refuge at the Government College before proceeding to the Shehu of Borno’s palace, which was completely submerged, the President sympathised with the government and people of the state over the unfortunate incident.
He prayed to God Almighty to grant peace to the souls of those who lost their lives and also forestall future occurrences.
Tinubu said, “We are here to sympathise with you over the unfortunate flood disaster. I want to assure the Borno people and other states affected by natural disasters that the federal government will give the desired maximum support.
“I was outside the country for an official engagement when I heard of the shocking news of the flood. The Vice-President has already visited the state on behalf of the federal government, but I have to come from America to sympathise with you.
“I want to commend Governor Zulum, The Shehu of Borno, and all other stakeholders for their contributions.”
While at the Government College, the President commiserated with the victims and assured them that the government at all levels would not forsake them but would do everything possible to rehabilitate and support them and mitigate their immediate suffering.
Responding, Governor Zulum and the Royal Father commended President Tinubu for finding time to sympathise with them at this trying moment.
“On behalf of the government and the people of Borno state, we remain internally grateful to the federal government. Since the incident broke out, all National Bodies mandated to offer humanitarian assistance have been on the ground, and they are doing wonderfully well.
“I also appreciate the federal government providing N3bn to each federation state. We in Borno have since received our share, which we have started disbursing to vulnerable groups. Now that we have witnessed another monumental disaster, we have started using the funds judiciously to manage the incident.
“We also appreciated the federal government, under your leadership, for providing food and non-food items from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, NEMA, and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, among others.
“We want to also appeal to the federal government to assist in reconstructing the Alau Dam with hydraulic structures to prevent future occurrence of this disaster,” Zulum stated.
In his response, the Shehu of Borno, Elkanemi, expressed his sincere gratitude to President Tinubu for the visit and all the support extended to the traditional institutions and the victims.
The President’s entourage includes the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdurahman Abdulrazak, governors of Kogi, Bauchi, and Sokoto states, some Ministers, and many other dignitaries.
*Nigerians demand proactive measures to Borno flood recurrence
Following the September 10 Borno flood disaster, where no fewer than 23,000 households were hit, Nigerians demanded proactive measures to prevent flood recurrence.
Moved by this magnitude of destruction, ThisNigeria sought the views of informed opinions on the possible solution to this kind of natural disaster.
Commenting on the issue, Prince Oladele Sunday Whyte, Chairman of the Kwara State chapter of Action Alliance, said that it had become imperative for the government to take proactive measures to mitigate such disasters.
Whyte highlighted specific ways in which the government should address the issue.
According to him, the government should increase investment in flood control infrastructure such as dams, levees, and drainage systems; enhance early warning systems and emergency preparedness; ensure judicious use of ecological funds for intended purposes, like flood prevention and mitigation projects; support affected communities with relief efforts and rehabilitation programmes; develop and implement long-term flood management strategies.
While commenting on the ecological funds, Whyte expressed the need to hold the government accountable for using them effectively and transparently.
He added that independent audits and public engagement could help ensure judicious use of the funds to mitigate flooding and support affected communities.
He also worries about state and local government’s failure to address ecological problems.
Whyte, however, commended the Federal Government for providing enough resources for the two other tiers of government but expressed disgust that they need to utilize them appropriately.
A Political analyst and public commentator, Mr Abdulrahman Aliagan, said, “Since the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) has predicted more rainfall and potential flooding, the government must take immediate and effective action to mitigate future disasters.”
He added, “It is equally expected that the government takes a rapid response relief efforts to support displaced persons and also ensure urgent repair and maintenance of critical infrastructure such as dams and water channels.”
“Unarguably, the ecological funds need to be properly utilised. There must be reasonable and transparent utilization of the funds for the purposes they are meant for.
“It is crucial that the government prioritises the welfare and safety of its citizens, takes proactive steps to mitigate the impact of flooding, and ensures judicious use of ecological funds to ensure that resources are allocated effectively to address this pressing issue,” Aliagan said.
A professor of economics at the University of Abuja, Peter Siyan, said the best way for the government to control floods and minimise their impact was to buy and install early warning technology to monitor and forecast flood disasters.
He said, “The government should buy and install Early warning technology for flood forecasting and monitoring. Regular dredging of waterways and rivers should be encouraged to prevent silt accumulation. Intergovernmental cooperation between local governments, states, and the federal government should be encouraged to collaborate on flood prevention strategies.”
“All the three tiers of government should take proactive measures to mitigate flood disaster by focusing on prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.”
“Some of the major areas of action should include the following: Government should prioritize improved infrastructure building and maintaining effective drainage mostly in flood-prone areas to allow proper water flow and prevent flooding; construction and maintenance of dams to control and reduce flood risk in vulnerable areas; states and local governments should relocate communities from flood-prone to safe locations.”
Siyan also called on the government to collaborate with global environmental and disaster management agencies to leverage funding for flood mitigation.
“Above all, flood risk awareness and education should be prioritized. Clean evacuation plans, including the provision of well-organised shelters and emergency supplies, should be guaranteed.”
He added that green zones should be promoted by encouraging tree planting to reduce the impact of floods.
“Government should also strengthen response agencies, such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to respond rapidly and effectively when a flood occurs,” he stressed.
“By implementing these strategies, government can help reduce the impact of floods and protect lives and property.”
While commenting on ecological funds, Siyan urged transparent utilization.
“The money should strictly be used to address environmental and flooding issues alone,” he said
However, he lamented the implementation of ecological projects and their total abandonment in some cases due to insufficient funding, bureaucratic hurdles, or corruption.
“For effectiveness and good results, transparency should be the watchword. The three tiers of government should make all disbursements and expenditure reports public.”
” Siyan said the oversight mechanism should be strengthened, citizens should be involved in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of ecological projects, and project audits and impact assessments should be conducted regularly.
