TIME TO STEM THE TIDE OF PREVENTABLE FLOODING IS THE FOCUS OF TODAY’S VIEWPOINT
As the first heavy rains drench the land, people now find themselves at a familiar crossroads.
The annual flooding that devastates communities, destroys livelihoods, and claims lives is not an unavoidable natural disaster.
It is the direct consequence of collective failure to take preventive action despite years of bitter experience.
In Lagos and some states of the federation, drainages choked with plastic waste turn moderate rainfall into urban floods.
In riverine communities, decades of poor dredging have created ticking time bombs.
Across the nation, illegal structures on waterways stand as monuments to our disregard for basic urban planning principles.
Government at all levels must move beyond the current reactive approach that treats flooding as an annual surprise rather than a predictable challenge.
The resources spent on emergency response every year could fund permanent solutions if properly channelled.
Simple measures like consistent drainage maintenance, strict enforcement of building codes, and proper waste management would reduce flooding impacts.
Also, people’s culture of indiscriminate waste disposal and tolerance of environmental violations contributes directly to the problem.
They fail to understand that the plastic waste carelessly tossed today becomes tomorrow’s flood catalyst.
The urgency for decisive action on climate change is now.
With increasingly heavy rainfall, our infrastructure must adapt upgraded drainage systems and flood control measures.
This rainy season offers yet another opportunity to break the cycle.
State governments must immediately clear blocked waterways and remove illegal structures.
Federal agencies should provide technical and material support where needed, while communities need to organize clean-up efforts and flood preparedness initiatives.
The solutions are known, the resources exist, but what has been lacking is the political will and collective determination to implement them consistently.
Nigeria’s flooding crisis is ultimately a test of our governance systems and civic responsibility.
Passing this test requires moving beyond temporary relief to permanent solutions.
The time for action is now and the nation should not wait for the next disaster.
Our future resilience depends on the choices we make today.
