The Nigeria Union of Journalists mourns with the government and people of Niger State over the flood related deaths of about 150 Nigerians in the village of Mokwa in Niger State. This horrific tragedy is coming on the heels of other violence-induced tragedies of equally epic proportion in which lives have been lost in our country.
The NUJ is very much aware of the perennial problem of flooding in the country - a phenomenon that also bedevils many other parts of the world with different levels of destruction and death it its wake.
The knowledge about the inevitability of a yearly reoccurrence of flooding should provide the basis for preventive action for the purpose of damage control and removal and relocation of citizens from the pathway of the floods.
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency the body responsible for weather and climate forecasting, has often times sounded the alarm on emerging weather trends with severe impact on citizen safety, agriculture, and housing. Sadly, the death toll in Mokwa raises questions on the nature of responses by government agencies to NIMET's early warnings.
While the nation looks up to the next stage of this catastrophic event which involves intervention.and relief measures by the National Emergency Management Authority, NEMA to bring much needed remedial support and relief for the victims, our attention must be geared towards prevention of other similar calamities anywhere in the country due to the fact that we are still in early days as the bulk of the rains is still on the way.
Concerted efforts at both federal, state, and local government levels must be embarked on to clear debris and obstacles nationwide that excercebate flooding. Other measures include drainage and gutters maintenance as well as installation of green infrastructure, and strengthening flood barriers.
The NUJ expects much more from agencies of government at all levels as well as from concerned citizens.
Achike Chude
National Secretary.
