The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Minna Operation Office, has alerted Kwara residents of an impending flood this year.
The agency advised village and district heads as well as religious leaders, especially those in community levels, to begin the preparations in order to mitigate the effect of the flood.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Head of NEMA Operation in Minna, Mrs Zainab Suleiman-Sa’idu, in Ilorin on Monday.
She said that the alert became necessary following the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released by the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) and 2023 seasonal climate prediction by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMET).
She added that the two reports are products of scientific researches that revealed that the country would suffer the possibility of flood in three categories, including high, moderate and low flood risks.
He said further that the report also identified Kwara as among the high flood risk states.
She therefore advised the community leaders to urgently lead the people of their various communities in identifying drainages/culverts that are blocked to be cleared.
The agency also urged the community leaders to sensitise people who have built on flood plains and those living along river banks to relocate to safer and higher places.
According to the 2023 AFO, flood is expected to occur in the state from the months of August, September and October.
“It is very clear that 2023 flood threatens not only the rural dwellers who resides along river bank, because urban flood is also very highly expected in metropolitan towns in Kwara state.
“Prevention is not only better but also cheaper, the agency strongly believes that when these warnings are heeded, the lives and properties of people will be saved,” she added.
For years, residents lived with the menace of perennial flooding in Uvwie, Warri and the environs. During the rainy season, Enerhen junction, PTI road, Uti road, refinery road, Ugbuwangue community and many other places in the Warri metropolis were a nightmare.
It is on record that the perennial flood claimed lives, buildings were brought down and roads constructed by successive governments were badly damaged. The situation was precarious, especially as no serious effort was made by previous governments to address the challenge.
In the recent past, the situation was not different in Asaba, Delta State capital. When Okowa assumed office as Governor of the State in May 2015, the State capital was perennially plagued by flooding during the rainy season.
However, the story of Asaba has changed today.
A tour of projects executed by Governor Okowa took this reporter to Delta. In Asaba, the reporter had the opportunity to inspect and investigate how the State Government under Governor Okowa was able to curb the menace of flooding in the State capital.
Okowa’s approach to problem of flood in Asaba and implication for construction of roads
In response to the problem of flooding in Asaba, Governor Okowa initiated the Asaba stormwater drainage project. This reporter reliably gathered that when Okowa assumed office, a development research consultant proffered solutions to the perennial flood in Asaba.
Residents and those familiar with Asaba can testify about the state of the State capital during the rainy season. Hitherto, the flood problem created anxious moments for residents. The volume of water submerged houses and deaths were recorded in some cases. Indeed, the flood menace was an albatross to residents of the capital city.
For instance, during the rainy season, the busy Okpanam road is usually overwhelmed by flood, causing terrible snarl in traffic, with motorists forced to drive indiscriminately and lawlessly.
The road leading to Junior Staff Quarters from Summit Road was often cut off during the rains and the premises of Delta Broadcasting Service (DBS), Asaba, also went under, submerged by the flood, with offices run over and equipment destroyed.
Besides Okpanam road, DBS road and Junior Staff Quarters road, other places usually badly affected by floods include Jesus Saves road, DLA road, Ambassador Leo Okogwu road, Infant Jesus, Temple Clinic area and the whole of Asaba inland town.
But today, that flood plague, with its attendant trauma to residents of Asaba, is no more.
Mr John Onwalu, the Consultant Engineer for the Asaba Storm Water project, had given insights into how the project started.
“When we came in, we carried out a preliminary study to find out the cause of the flooding so as to be able to proffer a solution. From our preliminary study, we found out that Asaba is sitting on the lower plain of a valley.
“Taking Asaba and Okpanam together, every drop of rain in Okpanam comes down to Asaba because Okpanam is situated at 187 metres above sea level, while the centre of Asaba, which is at Inter Bua Roundabout is situated at 44 metres above sea level.
“So, you have a difference of about 143 metres in elevation. This explains why every drop of water in Okpanam flows to Asaba. The situation shows why even when there is no rainfall in Asaba, it still experiences flooding flowing in from Okpanam,” Onwalu had said.
The Consultant Engineer had also disclosed that a major problem which their study discovered was that when Delta was created with Asaba as capital, there was an initial lack of urban planning, which should have mapped out roads, residential areas, commercial areas, schools, etc.
“But, with no defined areas for property development, people began to develop property indiscriminately, blocking natural water paths, thereby hindering the flow of the precipitated flood through its natural path,” Onwalu said.
According to him, water must find its level and that is why you find water meandering through different places, even through homes.
He explained that the discoveries prompted a survey of the whole area to be carried out soon after the state government under Gov. Okowa directed that the storm drainage project should be embarked on.
“The survey was topographic and intended to collect information on every spot in Asaba. With that, we were able to generate the spot heights from which the contour mapping was produced, with the street names, and all the verifiable features that will help in our work, after which we went into the proper analysis to generate the flood drainage design,” Onwalu explained.
He added that the analysis was to provide an answer to the question of the volume of flood water that Okpanam contributes to Asaba and how to manage it.
Armed with adequate technical details on issues around the perennial and intense flooding in the capital and environs, including the determination of the hydrological channel section that could accommodate the volume of flood water from Okpanam, the government began, as onerous as it appeared, a comprehensive and apt strategy to arrest the scourge.
The Okowa government deployed the storm drainage approach, tasking the contractors to split the project into three phases for ease of handling and coordinated supervision.
Work in all the phases has been concluded, the drains have been activated and flooding in Asaba is now history. The storm drainage project by Okowa came to the rescue and has brought joy to the people.
The gargantuan tunnels, seen at the discharge point at Anwai, and the mighty pipes that run through them, mean that when it rains at Okpanam or even in Asaba, the drainage system is able to swallow all the water and discharge into the River Niger. Okowa thus saved the state capital and the inhabitants from the debilitating experience of flooding.
The project was superbly, conscientiously and pragmatically executed in tandem with its concept, from observation.
Meanwhile, after constructing the main storm sewers, the government started concentrating on creating street drains, and everywhere that a road was constructed or rehabilitated, a street drain is also provided.
It is the drain that makes the roads last because when there is no water sitting under the asphalt, the road will not collapse. Every drop of water flows into the drain which empties into the sewers, thus making the road networks to endure for a long period.
It is common knowledge that bitumen is never friends with water. So, roads without drainage will definitely collapse, which has been the case with roads constructed in Effurun, Warri and the environs by successive governments.
Once the flood problem of Asaba was solved, it became much easier to construct more roads in the State capital.
Gov Okowa replicating Asaba storm drainage success in Warri
One amazing thing Governor Okowa did in Asaba, which is worth replicating in all parts of Delta, is that virtually all the roads in the State capital are tarred and there is no single one with a pot-hole, except for a number of roads currently undergoing construction work.
Many criticize Okowa and say because he is not from Warri, he refused to construct or rehabilitate roads in the metropolis. But, not many know the foundation the Governor has laid for the integrated development of the metropolis.
A critical look at the solution provided for the problem of flood in Asaba shows that deep thoughts and deep thinking have gone into it, depicting the intellectual inputs to government projects and programmes by the Okowa administration.
Recall that a lot of roads were constructed by successive governments in Warri. They could be likened to “indomie roads”. When the roads soak in water from the perennial floods, they become too soft and wear away. That has been the cycle, happening in the course of the last 16 years.
Because there was no viable drainage system, most of the roads constructed in Warri collapsed. Existing drainage before now does not discharge anywhere. Hence, roads constructed in Warri always failed.
Okowa, by the stroke of deft wisdom, refused to follow the path of road construction taken in the past. It was not wise for the government to continue to put down money into the drain. What to do was to address the reason why roads in Warri do not stand the test of time, which is what the government is addressing at the moment.
Recall that the first two years following the 2015 general election and subsequently the inauguration of the government in that year were turbulent such that it was difficult for State governments to even pay workers’ salaries let alone embark on projects.
However, revenue begin to pick up and the government started executing projects. It was, therefore, only wise for the government to be prudent and careful with the number of projects it piled up at a time.
To replicate the solution provided for flooding and road construction in Asaba for Uvwie, Warri and the environs, the Okowa administration initiated a flood control project for Effurun, Ekpan, Warri and the environs to channel the bulk of flood water into the Warri River. Thereby, pave the way for the construction of roads in the metropolis.
An Engineer addressing a team of journalists at one of the projects sites visited at Uti road, Effurun, Uvwie LGA, Delta State
To set the ball rolling, armed with the Asaba template, Governor Okowa established the Warri, Uvwie and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA), and before embarking on the project properly, a study of the topography of Warri and Effurun was conducted as well.
Before now, there was no survey and proper mapping of the metropolis but as a result of the flood control initiative by Okowa, Warri now has a master plan and just the same way that Asaba was prioritized, is the same way that Warri has been prioritized.
The State Government eventually awarded the contracts for the flood control project in Uvwie and Warri to the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) and Levant Construction Company, respectively.
Recall that the initial contract for the Uvwie and Warri flood control projects was awarded in January 2020, but the progress of work was stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the lockdown which ensued.
However, the increase of work sites on the storm drainage projects from initial 61 to 76 caused a corresponding increase of the contract value by N4.5 billion from the original sum of N9.5 billion. The projects will, therefore, cost each contractor N14 billion, making N28 billion in total.
“The cost of the drainage project can scare anyone but my government is focused and we do not want to build roads that will fail. I want to build a lasting foundation such that after the drainage, we can build roads that can last. In the area where we have already worked on, the people are very happy because there is no more flooding,” Governor Okowa had said during an inspection visit to the project.
One of the huge tunnels undergoing construction work
The project involves the clearing of canals, natural waterways and drains as well as the construction of huge underground tunnels, smaller drainages and culverts to channel flood water into the Warri River. The project also involves the relocation of electric poles, utilities and structures, underground pipes and network cables.
Workers at one of the projects sites
There have been incursions along the natural waterways over the year as many undermined the town planning structure of Warri and erected structures and buildings on the waterways. Those with formal approval who did not build directly on water courses were paid compensation but those who deliberately built on water courses hoping to get compensation were not compensated.
In executing the project, the contracting firms were urged not to employ outsiders for jobs that community youths can easily do. As the project progresses, more communities were engaged while those that had been used are disengaged.
The underground tunnels constructed for flood control in Uvwie and Warri and inspected by this reporter, a trailer can pass through them. This reporter gathered the multi-billion naira project has reached 70% completion stage already.
“The storm drainage project has reached 70% completion. What we are doing is laying the foundation for road construction in Warri as part of the integrated development of the State.
“With the flood control project, when fully completed, no volume of water can threaten Effurun, Ekpan, Warri and the environs anymore. Plus, we are sure our roads in the metropolis will last,” a government official told journalists on the tour of the project.
The project sites visited include Ugbolokposo, Alegbo, Uti, Apala, NPA expressway, Edjeba, Third Marine Gate, Esisi road and Igbudu Primary School in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government areas.
The drainage project as seen at Uti road in Effurun, Uvwie LGA of Delta State
Others include the project sites in Ugbuwangue community, Ekpan, Mabiaku street, Commissioner road and Aghoghovbia road, and the adjoining Arigbe street, which had been bedevilled by flood during the rainy season.
Most parts of the drainage system, same as in Asaba, are underground and so, not visible.
The stormwater project links from the DSC roundabout down to Uti Street linking to PTI road on one hand down to Jakpa junction, linking Effurun roundabout up to Enerhen junction and washing down into the Warri River. The project also links from Refinery road down to Ekpan and to Complex linking down to Airport road and joining Effurun roundabout up to Enerhen junction at Airport junction.
“Before we started this project, I had already informed you that there are going to be four different storm drainage projects for us to fully drain Warri of the flood water. This government undertook a study of the situation in Warri and Effurun areas of the state before commencing the project. Whatever was done in the past was not just good enough considering the terrain in the area.
“We have taken on the first two major projects, one in Warri South Local Government Area and the other in Uvwie Local Government Area. The other two are smaller drainage projects. Once we have solved the drainage challenge, it becomes much easier to construct more roads,” Governor Okowa told journalists during a recent visit to the project.
With the stormwater drainage system initiated in Warri by the Governor, all existing drainages are now being properly linked to channel water to the Warri River to curb flooding in the metropolis. Building on this, any road constructed in Warri will no doubt last.
As a result of the appreciable work done on the drainage system in Warri, last year, the Okowa government awarded the contract for a total reconstruction of Warri Township Stadium.
Meanwhile, Governor Okowa had disclosed his administration had 883 ongoing and completed road projects covering a total length of 1,932.14km of roads and drainage channels with a cumulative length of 1,035.95km in the last seven years.
Governor Okowa has shown commitment to restoring the lost glory of Warri and the storm drainage projects, designed to ensure that the flooding of the oil-rich city was permanently tackled, will pave the way for what is to come next.
Just as the residents of Asaba are now enjoying the rainy season as the massive flooding that used to overwhelm the city is now a thing of the past, so residents of Uvwie, Warri and the environs will start enjoying the rainy season.
A downpour on Thursday caused flooding of the National Population Commission (NPC) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) premises at Babs Animashaun Road, Surulere, Lagos State.
The heavy rain, which started about 11.30 a.m., continued until about 1.00 p.m, took over the entire premises of the NPC and NYSC, which have, over the years, been witnessing severe flooding after rainfalls.
Thursday’s flooding is of much concern since the NPC is set to conduct the 2023 National Census – a major national assignment – from May 3 to May 5.
When the rain subsided, workers and visitors were seen wading through the flood, which poses great dangers to their health and the environment.
Some staff who spoke with NAN said it was “normal” for the area to be flooded whenever it rained. However, they said they had expected the flooding to stop after the rehabilitation of Babs Animashaun Road.
Babs Animashaun road is very critical to the connectivity and socio-economic development of the state since it connects Surulere axis to the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
“Sadly, the situation is the same. The flooding here continues. I am not sure anyone considered the NPC and NYSC offices to do anything to stop or reduce the flood.
“We are located close to a canal, which makes it worse. We are not even talking about the effects of walking through the stagnant and dirty water,’’ a worker said.
It was the same situation at the NYSC, Lagos State Secretariat, after the heavy rain. NYSC, Lagos State Secretariat, Babs Animashaun Road, Surulere, Lagos.
Some corps members and visitors were seen outside the gate discussing in groups whether to go inside the compound or turn back.
Our correspondent observed that some of the staff eventually decided to turn back.
Following the rain, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) advised Lagos residents to take precautions to avoid dangers.
Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Territorial Coordinator (NEMA), Lagos, gave the advice in a statement on Thursday.
Farinloye advised school proprietors and teachers to keep children in their custody for 30 minutes after rainfalls before releasing them.
He advised people not to take refuge in makeshift shelters as the places could be washed off by floods.
He also urged drivers to exercise patience as the highways could be blocked and flooded.
The operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has embarked on self help to free traffic by dislodging rain flood into open drains on main carriage way, Odo Iya-Alaro Bridge inward Ojota, Lagos.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, made this known in a statement in Lagos.
Adebayo said one of the LASTMA officials, Mr Lateef Kabir, resulted to the initiative after noticing heavy gridlocks on top of Odo Iya-Alaro Bridge, inward Ojota.
He was commended by both private and commercial bus drivers for the wonderful and lofty idea.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Bolaji Oreagba, however, called on members of the public particularly motoring public, to always comply with directives of traffic officers and adhere to the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.
“Please contact LASTMA via these hotlines (08100565860, 08129928503 & 08129928597 or our social media handles Instagram – ekolastma, Twitter- @followlastma, Facebook-ekolastma, YouTube – LadtmaTV & email – info@lastmalagos.com) in case of any traffic or emergency related assistance across Lagos,” Oreagba said.
Singing this childhood lullaby to adults smacks of irresponsibility or simply childishness. Because, certainly, it will rain. And it rains with indifferent ferocity, taking along with it all that stands in its way, including human beings. It is a calamity officially predicted. But unfortunately without any resilient mitigating plans. Year-on-year, the cycle of flood forecast and losses seem premeditated to query the role of government. Wherever a plan is in place, loss of lives could be brought to the barest minimum. There could be a loss of economic assets which can be replaced by appropriate insurance or calling government provisions for rebuilding.
And yet, as if to give the impression of being on top of the situation, the Nigerian Federal Authority declared that “Nigeria would witness another round of flood in many states this year, but stated that early preparations had commenced avoiding some of the mistakes that were made in 2022”. It also admitted that 662 human lives were lost to the devastating floods in 2022.
There was no news about compensation to victims’ families or visits by the government, either State or federal, to some families that lost their loved ones. Rather it is a declaration that they should wait for another round of flooding this year with a kindhearted warning for people living in flood-prone disaster areas to relocate. No mention was made about where to relocate or where the government has put up emergency shelters to cater for people who might be displaced by the flood. Officials think they have done enough with hosting a press conference, admitting that nearly 700 citizens perished in flood waters in just one year – 2022.
‘Mistakes were made
Mustapha Ahmed, the Director-General of the National Emergency Agency felt great to admit that mistakes were made in the handling of flooding last year. “We are starting early because we have seen one or two mistakes that were done last year.” What were the mistakes and who was negligent in performing the duties assigned that led to an unprecedented loss of human lives? Suddenly, NEMA realized that collaboration with the States was absent in preparation for 2022 flooding preparations. “We can’t work if NEMA is moving on one side, while the States are on the other side,” he lamented to the press.
Besides the DG’s pronouncement that “state governors would be informed early this year about disaster-prone areas,” he did not disclose flood mitigation measures that will at least save lives. Questions like building shelters with basic supplies for those people who will be temporarily relocated and long-term plans to move people out of these areas with States government’s collaboration.
Kudos to NEMA! It held a 5-day seminar which ended last week with facilitators from Bournemouth University Disaster Management Centre. Certificates were awarded to attendees which included some State Emergency agencies. How does this seminar translate to a robust mechanism for responding, mitigating and preventing the perennial flood disaster and the avoidable loss of lives?
Naturally, NEMA should have a risk management expert and or actuary at its top-level executive function. These would be complemented by outsourced experts that would plan on a long-term basis how to deal with flooding in Nigeria. Since it can only get worse because the intensity of the rains cannot be stopped on the back of climate risks of the 21st Century, it is only logical that managing the risk of both natural and man-made disasters remains the only solution. African Reinsurance Corporation has been at the forefront of formulating risk measures to help farmers adapt to climate risks and protect their crops. NIRSAL is doing the same with the help of risk experts. It is beholden to NEMA to seek the expertise it lacks. If it could invite experts from Bournemouth University to deliver seminars, the abundance of such expertise locally can greatly help its work. Perhaps, its functions are being misinterpreted to apply only in emergencies.
A dam buffer
A presidential committee on flood prevention set up by President Buhari in the wake of the last year’s devastating floods is working on a proposal to construct a buffer dam along Dasin Hausa to protect Adamawa and Taraba States from flood waters resulting from Lagdo Dam. The Committee has 90 days to prepare a holistic plan to prevent flooding in all parts of Nigeria!
Note that this Dasin Dam construction had been abandoned and the flood Committee is considering recommending the construction work to recommence and awarded again. That’s how we roll! No accountabilities about how much money was committed by the government and the name of the contractor who failed to execute the contract. No general audit and no plan to involve experts to acquire the project!
Certainly, this presidential fiat is a tall order that would lead the country to nowhere. You cannot fashion a blueprint for flood risks in this way. A presidential committee comprising only politicians and civil servants are unable to achieve anything significant when risk management experts are excluded. Commendably, though this government is smart because in 90 days, a new government would have been known and the current one would be winding down.
A case for a National Flood Insurance Policy
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) – which actually can be collapsed under one agency – in pushing out the annual flood outlook and forecasts should only serve for modelling risk uptake by commercial underwriters as well as emergency responses. The way these outlooks are dished out seems to make these predictions represent the end itself and not a means for mitigating and response.
We need not reinvent the wheel but adopt and adapt workable solutions to our environment. All over the earth, nations face similar natural events to ours. However, they have employed the expertise required for the purpose and solving problems. The subject of flooding and other natural disaster are risks we face that has solutions.
We can learn from the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which wrapped up its “2023 traditional reinsurance placement for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), transferring an additional $502.5 million of flood risk to the private reinsurance market for a total premium. Combined with the agency’s “three in-force catastrophe bond transactions, FEMA has transferred $1.9275 billion of the NFI P’s flood risk to the private sector.”
About 8.5% of losses placed with 18 private reinsurers are structured to pay between US$ 7 billion and US$ 11 billion for any single flood event.
Nigeria doesn’t have the scope of US exposure, but part of emergency funds under the various headings that I had written about a couple of weeks ago can serve to get insurers and risk experts to come together and identify areas to insure and where funds from the Ecological Project Office can buy bonds from the reinsurance market. The most critical is the insurance of loss of lives and property. There should be a succour for families that suddenly lose their loved ones.
There is hardly any other country that has recorded this mass death resulting from flooding as happened last year. What is urgently required for the 2023 rainy season is for the relevant agencies across all tiers of government to collaborate with National Orientation Agency to mount a robust enlightenment campaign in flood-prone areas so that people will understand the dangers they face and possible self-help that they may activate in emergencies.
Emergency Response System
Nigeria does not possess the capacities, both in human and equipment investment to respond to emergencies related to rescue operations. Also, it is unlikely that any framework exists to call in the military to augment the lack of trained rescue personnel in emergency agencies. It will be a daunting task to get all these in place before the rains. Therefore, the quickest and easiest plan now is the prevention of human disaster. Resources will need to be mobilized to accommodate people that will be temporarily relocated to purpose-built shelters for about three months during the peak of rainfall using NiMet mapping and the hydrology forecast.
It is only wishful to express and propagate the idea that a strong response system may be put in place before April to tackle any flooding of the proportion of 2022. The vulnerable area mapping and meeting of governors and other stakeholders as expressed by NEMA seem like routine engagements. The Presidential Flood Emergency Committee and NEMA need not give false hopes to citizens. But they can work together to make resources available to move people away from flooding areas.
This aside the federal government and the States can then invite both commercial risk market players to advise on the best approach towards our own Nigeria National Flood Insurance Policy. It will be structured to be owned by NEMA. For this to happen, NEMA would have to be restructured both in concept and operations.
Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate in Delta has promised to address the perennial flooding and incessant attacks on local farmers by suspected herders in the state.
Omo-Agege made the promise on Tuesday during the party’s ward to ward campaign visit to Uwheru,
Ewu-Urhobo and Evwreni in Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government areas of the state.
The governorship candidate, who is also the Deputy President of the Senate, said that if elected as governor, he would put permanent solution to the perennial flooding that had been ravaging some parts of the state.
Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, said that he would complete the abandoned Arhawharien/Okparabe Bridge projects as a governor.
The APC governorship candidate said that his administration would appoint ombudsman that would directly report to him on issues of the the incessant killings resulting from the herders/farmers clashes.
“As one of the first steps to end the frequent killings resulting from herders/farmers crisis in the state, my administration will appoint ombudsman who will report to me directly on the issue.
“I will appoint a Special Adviser, who will be liaising with both the farmers and the herdsmen. The era where they will be depriving our people and driving them from their farms will be over,” he said.
Omo-Agege eulogised the late Sen. Pius Ewherido, who passed on in 2013 as a serving Senator, describing the deceased as a stateman who brought quality representation to Delta.
The APC candidate, who visited the graveside of the late Delta Central lawmaker, assured the people that the late Ewherido’s political ideas and aspirations for a better Delta, Urhobo Nation and Nigeria, would be sustained and achieved through him as a governor.
“I will do for the people of Ewu, what the late senator would have done for you as a lawmaker and governor.
“Just like my brother said earlier that there is no time we will do campaign in Ewu without visiting the home of our late leader, Ewherido, here is the foundation of APC in Delta.
“The vision of our brother who has gone to rest with the Lord. The ‘Gogorogo’ himself. The vision of Urhobo and Delta to move forward is the same vision that we all share.
“And, it is very important that everyone knows that we were ‘comrade-in-arms’ while he was here with us.
“Ever since his departure, the Ewherido Family has been very good to me,” he said.
Responding, Mr Emma Ewherido, the younger brother to the late senator and a chieftain of the APC in Delta, commended Omo-Agege for keeping in touch with the family.
Ewherido urged the APC governorship candidate to sustain the legacies and aspiration of the former Delta Central lawmaker.
The campaign was rally attended by leaders of the party in the state including founding leader of APC, O’tega Emerhor; Mrs Stella Okotete; Mr Paulinus Akpeki and Mr Donatus Uba.
Others were: Mr Friday Osanebi, APC deputy Governorship candidate; Campaign Director-General, Elder Godsday Orubebe and Mr Tuoyo Omatsuli and among others.
As the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) commenced the rehabilitation and maintenance of its manual gauging stations spread on the major rivers and their tributaries in the country, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed the true figure of 2022 flood victims.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the NIHSA commenced the rehabilitation and maintenance of its manual gauging stations, following the devastating 2022 flood disaster.
The activity is targeted to reposition the hydrological monitoring stations, the majority of which were affected by the flood, and to restore them to the functional status before the onset of rain in the new year.
“This will ensure continuous river flow measurement with a view to having reliable data and information from strategic stations at different points/locations for river flow and flood forecasting, including flood early warning and the overall management of the nation’s water resources,” a statement by NIHSA reads.
TNG gathers that the field exercise is jointly being undertaken by the staff from the Agency’s Headquarters and the Zonal Offlices.
The host communities where the hydrological stations were sited were also sensitized on the significance of the stations and the need for security and sustenance of the stations.
Some of the stations that have been rehabilitated/maintained are: Kiri and Dandinkowa (on River Gongola), WuroBoki and Numan (on River Benue) and Gassol (on River Taraba).
2m displaced by 2022 flood disaster – NEMA
Meanwhile, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General, of NEMA disclosed on Monday that 2,430,445 people were displaced by the 2022 flood disaster that ravaged different parts of the country.
Mr Ahmed said this at the opening of a one-week strategic executive course for Nigeria Emergency Management Stakeholders on Monday in Abuja.
The course had as participants, heads of state emergency management agencies, heads of NEMA’s zonal, territorial and operational offices, among other partner agencies.
Ahmed said that the capacity building training was expedient at a time when the country was recovering from the impacts created by the 2022 flood disaster.
He added that the training which would afford the participants to share their experiences, would also provide an opportunity for them to develop holistic approaches to disaster and crises management in the country.
“This event is taking place in the immediate aftermath of the devastating 2022 flood disaster which is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria.
“Records indicate that 662 persons have lost their lives, 3,174 others have suffered injury and 2, 430, 445 individuals have been displaced by the floods.
“Thousands of houses, hectares of farmlands and several critical national assets were destroyed by the raging floods.
“NEMA in collaboration with state governments and other partners are currently working assiduously towards the long-term recovery of impacted communities across the nation,” he said.
The director-general also called on the participants to cascade the new ideas learnt to their various states and local emergency management committees to prepare early against future flood disasters.
Mr Musa Zakari, the Director, Human Resource Management, NEMA, said that the training was apt as it would assist in re-examining new and efficient approach to disaster management.
“Rapid changes in climate has resulted in the increase in the frequency of natural disasters across the nation.
“Hence the objective of this seminar is to assist the agency and its critical stakeholders in providing unique international brand of disaster management education, training and simulation that can augment existing senior Officers training provision within the country,” he said.
Alhaji Abbas Idriss, the Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who spoke on behalf of the participants, appreciated NEMA for organising the training.
He added that the training would build their capacity and strengthen their knowledge as they respond to disasters in the country.
The training had experts from the Bournemouth University Disaster Management Centre, UK, as resource persons.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) says it will disburse 1.7 million dollars to support farmers affected by floods in nine states of the country before ending of the year.
The intervention according to the organisation is to ameliorate flood impact on farmers and enable them to go into dry season farming, so as to enhance their income, boost production and ensure food security.
Dede Ekoue, IFAD Country Director said this on the sideline of the Federal Government/IFAD-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) Mid Term Review (MTR) Mission Stakeholders Wrap-Up Workshop, on Saturday in Abuja.
Ekoue who identified total flood recovery response for 2022 as 1.7 millions dollars, said the organisation had made an initial allocation of 600,000 dollars to farmers in some of the VCDP benefitting states.
According to her, the distribution of the fund in support of VCDP beneficiaries has already started for dry season farming in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger Anambra, and Enugu States.
“The process will be accelerated this December and early next year.
“The 1.7 million dollars is coming from the regular funding of VCDP,” she said.
Ekoue explained that the gesture was in response to the yearnings of farmers in the course of MTR mission across the VCDP benefiting states in the country.
She said “what was important to farmers in the course of visitation is for them to adapt more to help them recover, while the second one is to continue to strengthen the marketing aspect, especially for cassava..
“We noticed that there is more opportunities to strengthen the market aspect for cassava producers; for rice producers a lot of progress has been made.”
Dr Fatima Aliyu, National Programme Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP said through the intervention the organisation and the government will support each of the over 2,000 targeted farmers with 40kg of seed, four bags of NPK and two bags of Urea.
The farmers, according to her, will also be supported with two litres of herbicides and water pumps for each hectare of farmland that will be rehabilitated, capacity building and extension services.
“We are training them on good agronomic practices to be abreast on how to cultivate their crops in the dry season.
“We have been doing it but felt we should do more to enable them have a very bumper harvest,”
Dr Aisha Omar, Director, International Economic Relations Department, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, said that the MTR was purposely to assess the performance of the project, determine challenges impeding implementation, relevance of different component and activities in view of current circumstances.
She said such will enable concerned organisations to decide “if there is the need to restructure the project”.
Omar assured that the department was committed to working with partners and project teams at state and Federal levels to meet the project development objectives and ensure value for money in those facilities obtained.
“The doors of my team are always opened to help the implementation unit resolve challenges and difficulties that might arise, “she said.
Omar however encouraged the project staff from participating states and at federal level to be dedicated to the implementation of the project and adhere to the procurement and financial management procedures of the fund, to avoid ineligible expenditure.
Dr Peter Kush, Deputy Director, Programme Coordinating Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development decried the devastating effect of flood on farmers.
“In the course of fieldwork, we discovered that most of the project farmlands were washed away by the flood, some of the VCDP infrastructure submerged among others,” he said.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari over “the failure to probe the spending of trillions of ecological funds by governments at all levels—federal, state and local governments from 2001 to date, and to ensure the prosecution of suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement of public funds.”
Joined in the suit as Respondents are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently said that no fewer than 600 persons died and 1.3 million rendered homeless as a result of the floods that ravaged most states across the country, with destruction of properties worth billions.
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/2283/2022 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to “direct and compel President Buhari to promptly and thoroughly investigate the spending of Ecological Fund by governments at the Federal, state and local government levels from 2001 to date.”
SERAP is also asking the court to “direct and compel President Buhari to ensure that suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement of trillions of ecological funds are promptly brought to justice, and any missing public funds fully recovered.”
In the suit, SERAP is arguing that, “the failure to probe the alleged missing trillions, prosecute suspected perpetrators and recover any missing public funds is a fundamental breach of constitutional and international legal obligations.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “impunity for corruption in the management of Ecological Fund will continue as long as high-ranking public officials go largely unpunished for their alleged crimes.”
According to SERAP, “It is in the public interest to direct and compel President Buhari to probe these allegations so that evidence can be taken before the court and the truth about the spending of ecological funds revealed, and justice served.”
SERAP is also arguing that, “the Federal Government has violated the obligations to protect and uphold the human rights of those affected, and to provide them with access to justice and effective remedies.”
The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyer Kolawole Oluwadare, read in part: “the Federal Government has the legal obligations to address the calamitous consequences of flooding for the human rights of millions of people, and to prevent and address the consequences that climate change may reap on human rights.”
“According to the audit of the Ecological Fund Office carried out by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, (NEITI), the total amount received by the fund from December 2011 to November 2016 alone was N277 billion.”
“The operations of the Fund from 2012 to 2016 reportedly showed that some of the disbursements were not utilised for the purpose for which it was established. During these periods, N74,170,932,645.20 was released to State Governments to solve ecological problems in their States.”
“Although ecological funds are shared across the three tiers of government, and emergency management agencies, the funds are managed and supervised by the Federal Government.”
“The Federal Government has the legal obligations to prevent and address the threats to human rights that result from climate change, and to provide access to justice and effective remedies for victims when these rights are violated.”
“The Federal Government has a positive obligation to protect individuals against the threat posed to human rights by climate change, regardless of the causes, and to effectively address the aftermath of the flooding such as deterioration in health, diminishing access to safe drinking water and susceptibility to disease.”
“Climate change also has the potential to exacerbate existing threats to human rights in the country. Rising global temperatures will jeopardise many people’s livelihoods, increasing their vulnerability to poverty and social deprivation.”
“Many years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the spending of Ecological Fund and entrenched impunity of perpetrators have undermined the ability of governments at all levels and emergency management agencies to prevent the impact of flooding on the human rights vulnerable Nigerians.”
“Allegations of corruption and mismanagement have undermined the ability of authorities at all levels to invest in drainage systems, and to tackle soil erosion and climate change challenges across several parts of the country.”
“The funds released for ecological projects are characterised by mismanagement, diversion of funds, substandard and abandoned projects fully paid for. Ecological funds have also been allegedly spent for other purposes such as election campaigns and political patronage.”
“Prevention of corruption in the spending of the Ecological Fund, and preventing and addressing the challenges caused by climate change are serious and legitimate public interests.”
“There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for alleged corruption and mismanagement in the management of the Ecological Fund.”
“Nigerians have the right to know how the public funds budgeted to address ecological challenges are spent. Publishing the details of allocations of the Ecological Fund since 2001 would promote transparency, accountability, and reduce the risks of corruption in the spending of the funds.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
As part of efforts to help alleviate sufferings caused by flood, the Urhobo Social Club, Lagos, has donated relief materials to Olomu, Ewhu, Evwreni, Uwheru and Ughievwen, communities, in Urhobo area of Delta State.
The delegation which was led by the President, Olorogun Jacob the Vice President, Olorogun Patrick Emurese and the immediate past President, Olorogun Edoreh Agbah, also made cash donations to some of these communities.
the delegation also paid courtesy calls on the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, HRM Ovie Richard Layeguen Ogbon Oghoro 1, HRM Mathew Egbi, Owha wha 1, Okobaro of Ughievwen Kingdom, HRM Oghenekevwe Owin Kumane Eruvwedede III, Ovie of Evwreni Kingdom as well as representatives of Ewhu and Uwheru Kingdoms.
Appreciating the efforts of the club, royal fathers prayed for the club and its delegations.
