Flood: Experts Task Govt On Building Dams, Dredging Waterways

As heavy floods continue to ravage many parts of Nigeria, experts have advised the government to expedite actions in building dams at strategic places and dredging the waterways in the country to forestall future occurrence.

Many states in Nigeria have been affected by  heavy flooding in the last two months, leading to loss of lives, destruction of properties and displacement of millions of the citizens.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), about 2.5 million persons are affected and over 603 persons killed by the flooding.

Convener of End Malaria in Nigeria, Francis Nwapa called on the Nigerian government to expedite action in the completion of dam construction projects in different parts of the country as part of measures to prevent flooding in the future.

Nwapa made the call in a statement released on Wednesday, October 19.

He also called on the government to step in to avert possible surge of malaria epidemic in areas affected by floods.

End Malaria In Nigeria is a non governmental organisation (NGO) .

Nwapa explained that the recent floods across states in the country have provided ample spaces for mosquitoes to breed in millions within communities, adding that the effect which is malaria, averagely kills over 200,000 people in Nigeria, mostly children below five years and pregnant women.

Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium transmitted to humans through bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed on water and can multiply in thousands within two to three days depending on the temperature of the water.

“The increase in malaria epidemic caused by flooding caused by the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon annually, is avoidable. For example, the construction of the Lagdo Dam in Northern Cameroon commenced in 1977 and completed in 1982, with the agreement that Nigeria Government will construct the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State which was meant to be two and half the size of Lagdo Dam, to generate 300 megawatt electricity and also aid irrigation” Nwapa said.

“40 years after the completion of the Lagdo Dam, Nigeria Government is yet to complete the Dasin Hausa Dam, thereby causing annual devastation and malaria epidemic caused by flood. The water from the Lagdo Dam when released, cascades into River Benue, Niger and into coastline states, causing heavy flooding of communities and this in turn increases breeding spaces for Mosquito.”

The End Malaria in Nigeria convener stressed the need for the Government to match words with action by completing the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa to forestall future occurrence of such flooding, adding, “These are some of the areas we feel the Aliko Dangote-led board on the National Malaria Elimination Council should advise the government on.

“We advise Federal and State Governments not to deploy just NEMA in situations like this but also Environmental Health experts in finding how to control outbreak of epidemic in affected communities and ensure Malaria mortality in 2022 is reduced,” Nwapa stated.

Still on proffering solutions to flood disaster, Seyi Adeniyi, a Nigerian Public Affairs Analyst, urged the government to regularly conduct dredging of the waterways and also construction of dams.

He said “Government should make sure from time to time, that dredging of our waterways are done. Also, dams that are under construction are quickly completed so as to accommodate more waters. I am aware that about 37 dams are currently under construction, according to Mr Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Water Resources.”

Adeniyi urged the Nigerian government to prevail on the Cameroonian government to obey the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) both countries signed about opening of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

“Nigerian government must prevail over the Cameroonian government by making sure it obeys the MOU signed with the federal government on the opening of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. Recall, in 2016, after a lot of effort, Cameroonian govt signed an MOU with the government of Nigeria on the release of waters from the Dam,” Adeniyi stated.

He also advised Nigerians to be more responsible in waste disposal by desisting from dumping refuse on drainage channels and natural waterways like rivers.