Some residents of Abuja and its environs have expressed fear over looming flood predicted for some states and the FCT due to poor environmental and sanitation practices.
The Director-General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Prof. Mansur Matazu, says rainfall is predicted to be earlier than the long-term average in most parts of the country.
In its reports, although NiMet forecast had predicted a largely normal rainfall pattern, it also indicated a high possibility of flash floods in some states.
The NiMet boss said there was likely to be elevated dry spell in some states of the north with potential adverse impact on planted crops.
The residents, lamented that rainy seasons have been a difficult period for them as floods always destroyed their property.
A resident of Nyanya, Mr Jacob Idris, said they have been struggling with flood annually even after clearing the drainages around them.
He said until the bridge and the road are reconstructed and a bigger ring is fixed; they may not get out of the problem.
‘’We don’t have the financial strength to construct a bigger bridge and a better road that’s why we are appealing to the government to come to our aid.
‘’We have lost millions of naira worth of goods and property to flood in this area and we are afraid that if nothing is done this year, property or even lives may be lost to flood.
‘’We have started seeing signs that it will rain heavily this year, since the first rain had caused serious flooding’’ he said.
A Mararaba, Nasarawa State resident, Mrs. Amaka Ukachukwu, suggested that to prevent flood this year, the residents must be stopped from dumping refuse on water channels.
‘’We need to sensitise residents to the danger of dumping refuse on waterways and major channels.
‘’Now that the rains are coming, we appeal to the government to be prepared and assist us on time.
‘’Some of us are poor, we should be relocated to camps as usual, so we are calling for early preparation in case such occurrences happen,’’ she said.
Another Nasarawa State resident in Ado, Mr Abdullahi Sanwo, appealed to residents to avoid blocking waterways with refuse.
He said a simple environment-friendly rule of cleaning the waterways should be adhered to.
‘’We do not want to witness flooding this year in our community; we are educating our people on the need to keep the drainages free of refuse.
‘’Aside that, we use the media houses to educate the public to clear their drainages and to cut the weeds on the waterways,’’ he said.
For a resident of Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, Mrs Josephine Paul, government should set up a committee in her area to monitor residents to ensure proper disposal of waste .
She said waste bins were provided by the government, so residents are been monitored to ensure the proper use of the waste bins
‘’We had an agreement to contribute the sum of N100, 000 in order to hire labourers that will assist in clearing the drainages and the weeds around our premises,” he said.
Mr Isaac Dogo, a resident of Garki has advised residents against blocking of drainages, adding that nature will fight back and the result is flood.
‘’I urged the government to take precaution against the impending doom,’’ he said
He appealed to the government to take a lasting solution to address the issue of flooding in the country in general.
