CITIZENS COMPASS– Following the effects of flooding in some parts of Nigeria, a frontline environmentalist in Delta State Chief Sunny Onuesoke has sympathized with the flood victims even as he seized the opportunity to proffer solution to the menace.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain said construction of dams, Wing dikes, diversion spillways, afforestation and Artificial levee are part of the measures that could be adopted to prevent future occurrences of flooding in the country.
He was speaking recently, at a-day flood awareness and IDP management workshop held in Abuja lamenting that the current flooding that has ravaged over 20 states in the federation and displaced thousands of Nigerians from their homes could have been avoided if the government, the international community and individuals have taken proactive steps.
He was speaking recently, at a-day flood awareness and IDP management workshop held in Abuja lamenting that the current flooding that has ravaged over 20 states in the federation and displaced thousands of Nigerians from their homes could have been avoided if the government, the international community and individuals have taken proactive steps.
Onuesoke explained that the release of water from the Lagdo Dam by Cameroon which has become the source of unimaginable destruction in Nigeria would have been prevented or managed through construction of dams rather than seeking control of operations from Nigeria.
No fewer than 600 people have reportedly died while over 1.3 million people were displaced as a result of flooding across the country.
Similarlly, property worth Billions of Naira were lost to the ravaging flood.
While appealing to the government to build new dams and desilt major rivers to check flooding, especially when neighbouring countries opened their dams, Onuesoke said dams could equally be used to generate hydroelectric power that can bring economic benefits to an area by attracting manufacturing companies to the country.
He added that the reservoir that develops behind a dam can be used as a drinking source or for leisure activities.
While rallying supports for victims of the flood, Onuesoke stated, “Aside from the current pain, suffering and losses being witnessed as the flood rages on, the consequence of this flood may spill over the next one or two years in form of food shortage due to farmland being washed away by the flood, diseases, power outage and other damming consequence.
Therefore, the international community especially the United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) must swing into action and mobilize other partner agencies to come to the aid of displaced persons in this time of emergency,”
He added.
