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| A water-submerged settlement |
Water is one of the gifts of God to
mankind and other living creatures. It
comes in form of rainfall, oceans, rivers, streams, or lakes etc. Because of its indispensability to human
existence, the amount and nature of water available determines the flow of
development. It’s importance is such
that some school of thought believe that “water has no enemy”. One of them was Nigeria’s Afrobeat musician,
late Fela Anikulapo Kuti who dedicated one of his sound tracks to this
belief. However, there are complex
patterns of water uses with far-reaching consequences.
In Africa, almost all major rivers
are shared by two or more countries.
Altogether, water management represents one of the region’s most urgent
development challenges. This requires developing laws, regulations and institutions
to manage their water resources in ways that are economically productive,
socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable.
In water resources management, the
conservation and management of wetlands and floodplains are critical because of
their productive capacity. The World Commission on Dams (WCD) has observed that
the rights of downstream communities have historically been ignored. The
present flood disaster in Nigeria is another case in point. Flood is currently
ravaging many of such communities spread across Kogi, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue,
Anambra, Enugu, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa and Imo States.
This particular flood is a
consequence of over-release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun. The operational incompetence or negligence by
the Camerounian dam operatives and the passivity of successive Nigerian
governments have undermined the livelihoods of over 400 vulnerable downstream
communities across the country.
As the flood rages, it is wrecking
havoc in every conceivable way, on both great and small. Even the President’s country home was not
spared. Poverty and environmental degradation lie both at the beginning and the
end of the chain. Hundreds of people have lost their lives; about 88,740 have
been displaced and property worth billions of Naira submerged. Food insecurity
is increasing as numerous live-stocks and farmlands have been overtaken by
flood. Recent reports reveal that some oil fields have been submerged as
well. Floods are among the most frequent
and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss.
A visit to some of the displaced
people’s camps revealed that they are far from being rehabilitated. What you
see is, a people who have lost all their possessions and are at the verge
of losing their own lives should a
serious epidemic break out now. Their over-crowded tents are mostly situated in
school premises, church compounds, and uncompleted buildings. Expectedly, this
environmental challenge has resulted to social and psychological problems.
There have been reported cases of
sexual assault and rape, possibly due to desperate lifestyles prevalent in a
state of anomie. Also, due to heightened trauma, some women have gone into
forced labour. Meanwhile, we are yet to hear of deployment of counselors to the
camps.
The affected Nigerians are
earnestly waiting to feel the impact of the huge funds released by the
president to affected states. They are also anxiously waiting to see the extent
to which the 34-member Presidential Committee on flood will ameliorate their
pains. Elected political office holders from the affected areas should seize
the hour to compassionately touch their people. They should address the problem
on ground with real solutions. Corporate
bodies, billionaires around the corridors of power, national awardees, and
indeed all well meaning Nigerian must arise.
It is time to be our brothers’
keeper!
This flood disaster raises a lot of
critical questions; when shall our governments begin to heed expert warnings
and adequately prepare for emergencies? What are the governors of the downstream/coastal
states waiting for before they will draw-out and commence implementation of
clear-cut master plans? What is the National Assembly waiting for before they
pass the water resources bill (and other key sector bills) before it?
The bill, if passed, will kick
start water sector reforms. Right laws, political will, adequate and monitoring
mechanisms are crucial for meaningful negotiation, contribution and
collaboration with neighboring countries so that water usage upstream does not
affect our downstream communities again. Let us arise, with hearts of
servanthood, so that we can build a future that puts few strains on the society
and the environment.
MacDenis Igbo
... Linking agrobiz, people & technology
