Ecological group, HOMEF sympathise with Niger flood victims

… seeks proactive approach by government

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) on Tuesday expresses sympathy. They offered these condolences to victims of the recent flood that struck Mokwa town in Niger State, North Central Nigeria. It urges governments to adopt a proactive strategy to avert flood disasters.

HOMEF, an ecology-focused group, recalled that flooding has become a persistent nightmare in Nigeria. They added that in 2012, floods affected 33 out of the 36 states. This occurred after the rain that fell between July and October that year.

The Non-Governmental Organisation conveyed its sympathies in a statement by Miss Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead at HOMEF.

According to HOMEF, the floods displaced over 2 million people, resulting in more than 400 deaths and other associated destruction.

It also recalled that in 2018, the Benue and Niger Rivers overflowed due to heavy rainfall. This caused flooding in 12 states, including Kogi and Niger. Four years later, in 2022, another severe flood killed over 600 individuals. It displaced more than 2 million others.

The group noted that the impacts of these floods have been catastrophic for communities and states.

The May 29 flood was preceded by heavy rainfall. It displaced over 3000 residents and destroyed properties. The flood claimed over 200 lives, with many individuals still unaccounted for.

“HOMEF mourns this tragic loss. They emphasise that the government must take proactive measures. This is needed to prevent similar or worse incidents from occurring in the future,” HOMEF stated.

The statement quoted Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, in his reaction to the recent flood incident in Niger State. He noted that communities and cities in flood-prone areas will cease to exist. This will happen if nothing is done to tackle the menace.

“This is a horrendous recurring decimal. There is no word to describe our lack of preparedness and our ill-maintained infrastructure.

“Joined with insecurity and the fact that more rain is expected, the displacement problems will be compounded. There is no time for excuses.

“This is the time to declare an environmental state of emergency across the board. This national emergency can impact our national well being by leading to food scarcity, environmental degradation, mass displacement, increased poverty, water-borne diseases and exacerbate insecurity,” he said

Bassey drew attention to forecasts and early warnings from different agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He expressed disappointment. He emphasised that these warnings become meaningless if provisions are not made. People need to be moved and settled on safe and higher ground.

“Nigeria needs to be proactive. Our government must have emergency preparedness. It needs to move people when these warnings and forecasts are made. This helps avert the kinds of disasters we see when flooding events like this occur.

“We sympathise with the families affected by the floods. We stand in solidarity with the communities that have been affected,” he said.

Stephen Oduware, Programme Manager of Fossil Politics at HOMEF, noted that flood damage continues to escalate. This escalation makes recovery both challenging and problematic.

“The rains are just beginning, and there are signs of more flash floods. We have the usual palliative measures and reactionary responses. However, what specific plans are there? What steps will they take to prevent the already predicted localised heavy rainfalls? How will they stop these events from resulting in the kinds of catastrophes we witness during floods?

“What is the Nigerian government doing to address the issues of flooding holistically? When floods occur, they leave a trail of destruction. They cause damage to properties. There is a loss of lives and livelihoods. They also bring other socioeconomic impacts.”

HOMEF said it believes that flooding is a consequence of climate change. It is also a result of poorly planned urban areas and inadequate emergency preparedness.

The group noted that the effects of climate change are widespread. Many Nigerian cities and towns are also affected by them.

“HOMEF calls for immediate measures to address the root cause of climate change. They advocate for improvement on practices that preserve natural habitats and wetlands. There should be investment in infrastructure that can help reduce the frequency and seriousness of flooding.

“HOMEF calls on all relevant agencies to work together in a fully synchronised manner to ensure that every facet of the disaster is addressed and succour is extended to the affected people,” the group stated