American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), Nigeria Chapter, has traced the annual flooding in the country to the rising waters from the main channels of River Niger and River Benue that cut across the six geopolitical zones.
The Safety Professionals condemned the devastating effect of flooding in some parts of Nigeria. They stated that the flooding is becoming an environmental pandemic in the country.
Mrs Mercy Omoifo-Irefo, ASSP President lamented on the flooding which has led to the destruction of many communities across the country since 2012.
Mercy further explained that most coastal communities along Rivers Niger and Benue and adjourning states were annually prone to flooding. She stated ‘this flooding problem is very devastating, causing huge destruction of rural infrastructure, including roads, bridges, electricity facilities as well as farmlands and crops, among others.’
‘The current effects of the rampaging flood across the nation have attracted the attention of ASSP. As an organization committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property with an overwhelming interest in protecting the environment, we are concerned and must seek a solution to it.’
‘ASSP shall sustain its efforts at addressing occupational and environmental hazards to reduce risks people are being confronted on a daily basis as well as other threats to life’.
The impact of flooding, she said, had increased from significant to threatening proportions in Nigeria, and the sad narratives have resulted in a massive loss of lives and properties.
The ASSP President expressed regret over the effect of the flood which has led to the collapse of many buildings, including schools and markets infrastructures, and farmlands submerged by the water.
‘Some persons are being carried away by the flood leading them to an untimely death, while economic activities of major agricultural producing communities are cut-off during this period, resulting to food shortages and high prices of available farm produced.’
‘Several communities are affected by the overflow of River Niger in Kogi state. Thousands of homes, farmlands destroyed in Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto state in northern parts of Nigeria. Buildings and farmlands damaged in Ikorodu, Lagos state, Edo State, Delta State.’
‘Virtually the entire Niger Delta region have constantly fallen victim of this natural environmentally disastrous phenomenon because of the inadequate attention being paid by both States and Federal Government to this reoccurring annual event.’
‘The ASSP Nigerian Chapter posited some measures that the Federal Government can embark upon to reduce the environmental and human devastating effects of flooding in Nigeria.’
‘This included, introducing better meteorological flood warning systems, enforcing strict adherence to flood-resilient architectural profiles especially for residents in flood-prone areas, constructing houses and structures above flood reached levels, increased spending by the Federal Government on the construction of dams that can regulate the quantum of water that is released to down line streams in the event of severe rainfalls during flood seasons and restoring rivers to their natural courses by opening up and dredging waterways,’ she said.
She expressed the intent of the Nigeria Chapter of ASSP to partner with the Federal Government for valuable and professional advice on proposing dynamic solutions to this seemingly continuing pandemic flooding in Nigeria.
She stated that ASSP is a global association of occupational safety and health professionals that focuses on workplace safety standards to reduce avoidable injuries and illnesses which in turn leads to improved productivity with reduced overhead health costs.
She further stated that the focus was on safety advocacy which teaches safety standard practice through continuous education on safety.
Peace Omenka