Why Perennial Flood Disasters Persist In Nigeria – Don

Professor Sheikh Danjuma Abubakar of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL) has said poor management of water sheds and River Basins are responsible  for perennial flood disasters across  the country.

Abubakar who presented the outcome of his research during an inaugural lecture delivered at the university’s main campus in Lapai yesterday implored the federal government to construct more River Basins to temporarily hold excess water during rainfalls.

He said poor legal guardians and not paying the right attention to the health of watersheds and river basins through integration of indigenous communities made mitigation of  the consequences of disaster  on human population difficult.

He said, “Government should provide access to difficult areas to address hard-to-reach locations vulnerable to floods. It should also construct detention basins to temporarily hold excess water during heavy rainfall.”

He called on governments at all levels to address the negative impact of development and deforestation in society and initiate measures to reduce non-absorbent surfaces and encourage permeable surfaces for natural absorption.

He stressed the importance of preservation of greenery, adding that trees and vegetation absorb rainwater, reduce run-off while deforestation disrupts this process.