The Root Cause Of Flooding In Nigeria

According to the world health organization (WHO) Floods are the most frequent type of natural disaster and occur when an overflow of water submerges land that is usually dry. Floods are often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid snowmelt or a storm surge from a tropical cyclone or tsunami in coastal areas.

Floods can cause widespread devastation, resulting in loss of life and damages to personal property and critical public health infrastructure. Between 1998-2017, floods affected more than 2 billion people worldwide. People who live in floodplains or non-resistant buildings, or lack warning systems and awareness of flooding hazard, are most vulnerable to floods.

Between 80-90% of all documented disasters from natural hazards during the past 10 years have resulted from floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, heat waves and severe storms. Floods are also increasing in frequency and intensity, and the frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation is expected to continue to increase due to climate change.

Floods can also have medium- and long-term health impacts, including:

water- and vector-borne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid or malaria.

injuries, such as lacerations or punctures from evacuations and disaster cleanup 

chemical hazards.

mental health effects associated with emergency situations.

disrupted health systems, facilities and services, leaving communities without access to health care,damaged basic infrastructure, such as food and water supplies, and safe shelter.

According to the Nigerian guardian newspaper reports on damages caused by floods currently in 2020.

Flooding has cut off some communities from other parts of the state in a devastating around Hushi, Sokoto State.

 Hushi, a renowned farming and fishing community, has turned ‘island,’ where the major link-way, Hushi-Wurno road, collapsed at three remote points following heavy downpours and massive flooding.

 

No fewer than 11,356 persons were affected by flood in six local councils, with 5,200 people displaced, 30 persons injured and 15 deaths in the recent Kebbi State flood disaster.

Dangerous reptiles have began to creep into some residential houses in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra, as a result of flood.

Ogbaru is a coastal local government with all its 16 communities on the banks of River Niger.

On 5-6 September, heavy rain and associated flooding affected Kano State (northern Nigeria), leading to fatalities, displaced people and damage. Media report that 2 people died and more than 5,000 houses were destroyed in Danbatta Area, 2 fatalities and over 200 damaged houses occurred in Rogo Area. Flooding was reported across more than 20 Local Government Areas of Kano State, and a number of people have been displaced. Recent flooding across Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States in northern Nigeria have caused around 30 fatalities and damage to thousands of homes and crop fields. Moderate to heavy rain is forecast over central and northern Nigeria on 7-8 September.

     The Root Cause Of Flooding In Nigeria

The major root cause of flooding in Nigeria include:

1.pollution

2.Unauthorized Buildings

1.Pollution:

 Fossil CO2 emissions in Nigeria were 82,634,214 tons in 2016.

CO2 emissions increased by 0.70% over the previous year, representing an increase by 578,039 tons over 2015, when CO2 emissions were 82,056,175 tons.

Nigeria is ranked number nine in the list of top twelve mismanaged plastic waste polluters in the world in 2010, contributing 2.7% to the world Total plastic waste pollution.b

Due to the fact that Nigeria emits high amount of CO2 into the atmosphere,and CO2 is one of the green house gases that have the ability to trap heat.The warmer the atmosphere gets as a result of CO2 emission the higher the precipitation,and it's scientifically proven and evident that high amount of precipitation is one of the major root causes of Flooding therefore directly or indirectly air pollution contribute to flooding in Nigeria.

The fact that Nigeria is one of the world's largest Plastics polluters,and plastics are known to have stubborn nature in decomposition,plastics thrown into water bodies like rivers and lakes gather up and eventually block the free flow of water,as a result of that whenever there is high amount of rainfall, instead of the water to flow freely,it remain stagnant and eventually overflow resulting to flooding in riverine areas.

Plastics thrown into sewers also result to blockage of the sewers hindering the free flow and passage of liquid waste to their appropriate destination,as a result of this when there is high amount of rainfall an overflow occurs flooding main roads and houses around the area.

2.Unauthorized Buildings:

It is a sad reality that most of the houses in Nigeria are built either in areas that are mapped out of residential areas,or built without following the standard rules and regulations involved before mounting a house which include soil investigation to know whether the soil is suitable for the type of building you intend to mount,the typography of the area,how far is it from a water body,how many meters should be left out away from a water body before mounting a house and the height a house in a riverine area should attain.

Most of the victims of flooding are low class families that have no knowledge of these rules and regulations,in a situation where by they are aware they don't have enough resources whatsoever to abide by the said regulations.

Infact there main concern is to have a place to rest at night,wake up in the morning and hustle for what to eat.

In such circumstances even if a  forecast of impending flood  is announced to the  public,these set of people still get victimized because they have no other place to go to for safety.

Plots of lands located in riverine areas are cheap and affordable, that is the main reason less privilege citizens reside in such areas.

             Possible Solutions To Flood In Nigeria

1.Climate action should be taken by both the government and the citizens of Nigeria.

2.Pollution should be controlled, government should came up with efficient recycling centers in the country in other to manage waste properly.

3.To reduce carbon emission industries should alternate the use of carbon producing materials with less harmful ones

4.plot of lands at approved residential areas should be made cheap and affordable for the less privilege citizens.

5.Free awareness on rules and regulations for a sustainable building should be given from time to time to the masses,either physically or through mass media.