WHY THE CRY FOR FLOODING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS MISPLACED 

BY AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU

Now flooding is taking over major cities in Nigeria and suddenly the voices are screaming from the roof top. I have always warned that the environment does not forget whatever is done to it and at the awkward moment it will revisit with consequences.

When the land reclamation was done in a very unprofessional way we screamed but no one listened.

When we were told to accept development over a thorough and professional environmental impact assessment EIA we wailed from the rooftop it was ignored.

When they were destroying green spaces and allocating relief lines and prioritize the moment over the future, we spoke but it landed on deaf ears.

Now what we thought we have built and acquired are crumbling like pack of cards. Nature does not forgive nor forget, it may tarry but will sure recover what you have taken from it.

When it comes with destruction, there will be no remedial action like we are currently witnessing. The Lagos flood situation and others across the country have been long in coming.

When we shrunked the lagoon and turned it to a dumpsite, were we expecting a day like this not to come? In environmental destruction, the evil that men do no longer live after them but live with them.

The cookies are now crumbling and the rich is also crying. What is the solution? Stop recklessness and irresponsibility in statecraft and realise that generations will come after us.

We cannot bring back what has been destroyed but can halt further damage and insensitivity.

AVM RTD AKUGBE IYAMU MNSA fsi

PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE PRACTITIONERS AND CONSULTANT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ANALYST ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES