The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called on the Nigerian government to declare an environmental state of emergency, extending condolences to families affected by the recent deadly flood in Mokwa, Niger State.
While mourning the loss of lives, HOMEF emphasized the urgent need for the government to implement preventive measures to avert future disasters.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, the environmental advocacy group urged residents in flood-prone areas to consider relocating if effective steps are not taken to tackle the growing threat.
Dr Bassey told the government that there was no time for excuses in the face of such a tragic incident, warning that the flood can impact the national well-being of the country, leading to food scarcity, environmental degradation, mass displacement, increased poverty, water-borne diseases and exacerbating insecurity.
He said, ”This is a horrendous recurring decimal. There is no word to describe our lack of preparedness and our ill-maintained infrastructure, combined with insecurity and the fact that more rain is expected, the displacement problems will be compounded.
”Flooding has become a persistent nightmare in Nigeria. In 2012, floods affected 33 out of the 36 states following the rain that fell between July and October that year. The floods displaced over 2 million people, resulting in more than 400 deaths and other associated destruction.
”In 2018, the Benue and Niger rivers overflowed due to heavy rainfall, causing flooding in 12 states, including Kogi and Niger. Four years later, in 2022, another severe flood killed over 600 individuals, displacing more than 2 million others. The impacts of these floods have been catastrophic for communities and states.
Reacting to forecasts and early warnings from different agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency
NEMA, Dr Bassey expressed disappointment, noting that the warnings are meaningless if provisions are not made to move people and settle them on safe and higher grounds.