The recent alert of imminent flood by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and NIMET appears to be another news headline for most Nigerians and even all tiers of government.
Despite the devastation caused by flood across the country in 2012, government at all levels, including its relevant agencies, nongovernmental organizations, corporate bodies, individuals as well as groups are treating the imminent flood threat with a pinch of salt.
To imagine that despite the alarm raised by the federal ministry of water resources that at-least 32 states and over 140 local government areas will be ravaged by flood in 2013 and yet both the federal and state governments are busy playing dirty and desperate politics in the building-up towards 2015 elections is most disheartening to say the least.
The obvious lack of proactive measures by the federal government save for the warning by the federal ministry of water resources to prevent what may turn out to be the worst natural disaster to hit Nigeria in history is very worrisome and smacks of disinterest in the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
No doubt, some states have carried out demolition of perceived illegal structures as a proactive measure, the extent to which they have gone is no-where up to scratching the surface if truly they intend to ward off the flood threat.
The demolition of such illegal structures with no alternative measures for those affected are mere political cheap point, particularly against the backdrop of the fact that the states have done little or nothing to dredge rivers and canals within their territory.
The federal, state and local governments have not done enough enlightenment to sensitive Nigerians on the need to stop constructing houses and shops on natural waterways as well as the imperatives of community mobilization to constantly clear drains.
It must be said that some of the biggest culprits of illegal structures are the so- called rich and influential people in the society, who are sometimes in government. They defy all odds to erect buildings and estates on natural waterways and canals, yet their properties are not touched by government when it comes to demolition, rather it is the shanties and caravans of the down-trodden that are often demolished whenever the issue of illegal structures comes up.
Danger certainly looms if all tiers of government, nongovernmental organizations, the relevant government agencies, corporate bodies, groups and indeed all Nigerians do not gear up and tackle the flood challenge headlong, because the rains are here and ready to unleash its reservoir in utmost intensity.
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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