Niger Delta environmental activist Sheriff Mulade has called on governors in the region to urgently activate flood prevention measures ahead of the heavy rains forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
He warned that failure to prepare could leave thousands of residents vulnerable to another round of devastating floods.
Mulade made the appeal in a statement released on Monday in Warri, Delta State, following NiMet’s latest warnings of possible flooding across several states during the peak of the rainy season.
The National Coordinator of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice criticised what he described as the lack of sustained commitment by governments to disaster preparedness, saying many leaders have failed to prioritise the protection of lives and property.
He recalled that many communities in the Niger Delta are still battling the effects of previous floods, particularly the widespread destruction recorded in 2012, adding that repeated disasters have continued to worsen the living conditions of residents.
Mulade stated that “the failure of governments at various levels to implement sustainable flood prevention and disaster management measures has left vulnerable communities exposed to repeated environmental disasters.”
He also cautioned that “if urgent collaborative and coordinated interventions are not undertaken ahead of the anticipated flooding as we approach the peak heavy rainfall, the region could once again witness widespread destruction of homes, farmlands, infrastructure, and livelihoods.”
He urged state governments to collaborate with federal agencies, emergency responders, local councils and community leaders to roll out practical flood management plans before the situation deteriorates.
Among the measures he recommended were the evacuation of residents in high-risk communities, clearing blocked waterways and drainage systems, strengthening emergency response structures, providing relief supplies and medical assistance, and intensifying public awareness campaigns.
Mulade stressed that proper planning and cooperation among relevant authorities remain the best way to minimise the impact of flooding, adding that “States such as Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, which are historically among the worst affected by seasonal flooding, should take the lead in implementing preventive measures to safeguard lives and property.”