Expert Links Poor Drainage System To Urban Flooding

A petroleum technologist and biology expert, Mr Charles Deigh, has attributed the recurring cases of municipality flooding successful Nigeria to mediocre design, operation and attraction of drainage systems crossed large cities.

Deigh made the connection successful Abuja portion speaking to journalists, stressing that inadequate and blocked drainage channels had continued to worsen flooding, particularly during the rainy season.

He said that portion clime alteration and dense rainfall lend to flooding, the deficiency of capable drainage infrastructure remains the superior origin of the recurring disasters.

“In astir Nigerian cities, drains are either undersized, poorly built, oregon wholly blocked with waste.

“When stormwater cannot travel into canals and rivers, it finds its mode into homes, roads and markets, causing monolithic damage,” helium said.

Deigh cited Lagos arsenic 1 of the worst-hit states. Recent dense rains submerged areas specified arsenic Lekki, the 3rd Mainland Bridge, Ago Palace Way, Ayobo-Ipaja, Fola Osibo, and Sangotedo, destroying spot worthy billions of naira.

According to him, akin situations person been recorded successful the states of Bayelsa, Benue, Anambra, Imo, Rivers, and Niger.

He said that successful summation to damaging infrastructure, floodwaters often premix with garbage and sewage, starring to outbreaks of waterborne diseases specified arsenic cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.

“Children are particularly vulnerable. Flooding besides causes important economical losses arsenic roads, markets, and businesses are destroyed.

“Commerce halts erstwhile roads are flooded, goods are destroyed, and transport is disrupted.

“Every flood play drains authorities resources that should person been channelled into semipermanent infrastructure,” helium said.

He called for urgent preventive measures, stressing that flood prevention indispensable regenerate exigency effect successful Nigeria’s attack to flood management.

“Flooding successful Nigeria is not lone a earthy catastrophe but a merchandise of neglect and anemic governance.

“Unless we instrumentality deliberate steps to upgrade our drainage systems, each rainy play volition proceed to beryllium a play of fear,” helium said.

He urged the authorities to enforce gathering codes, grow and desilt drainage channels regularly, and supply functional discarded absorption systems to forestall blockages.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) warned that astir parts of the state would acquisition above-normal rainfall successful 2025.

The bureau urged states to fortify flood-prevention measures and amended municipality drainage systems.