A WORD FROM THE STREETS ABOUT 2026 FLOODING AND INADEQUATE PREPARATIONS

By Avm (Rtd) Akugbe Iyamu,

Thirty three states and over 144,000 communities are at the risk of flooding in 2026 according to NiMet. In Nigeria today, predictions and annual flood outlooks have replaced state sponsored preparations as 8 out of every 10 Nigerians believe that the government is not doing enough in terms of disaster management.

The enormity of the gamble is diminishing the survival of the citizens in vulnerable communities and predictions without necessary action is just information and a joke.

There is a street side belief for those living in vulnerable areas that predictions are merely fulfilling a seasonal ritual because flooding will end up decimating their lives and livelihoods. And predictions devoid of the necessary solutions is an insult to the survival of the people who are already suffering from hunger, insecurity and poverty.

They consider the usual presidential directives for relevant agencies to bring relief materials to theatre of tragedies as knee jerk as they have seen the lack of efficacy of these frequent reflex orders when disaster occurs. Most time, MDAs have been asked to relocate to provide relief materials, the victims hardly take these orders and promises seriously nor do the larger public take promises to mitigate future occurrences seriously.

Soon after the promises in another year, the disaster returns with greater ferocity than the other year and unleash more catastrophes.

There is so much for rituals of ineffectual disaster management and insensitivity backed by braggdacio. What has emerged as disaster management in Nigeria is a curious situation where the ritual of promises have preceded for years without attention to the evolution of response framework and mechanisms.

Successive governments have inherited and deepened the tradition. The raining season is here again but the outcome will be a disservice to Nigerians when not properly informed and understood.

AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi

CONSULTANT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANALYST ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PRACTITIONERS