A lecturer with the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Dr. Simon Penda has expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s unpreparedness to tackle the impending flood predicted early this year by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NIMET).
Penda in an interview with our correspondent in Makurdi lamented that there was nothing yet on ground to show that the nation was prepared to withstand any challenge of flooding in the event the disaster which rendered many people homeless last year occur.
“To the best of my knowledge, I don’t see any change that may suppress any effect of flood that may occur this year. I don’t see us (nation) prepare to withstand any challenge of flooding,” he said.
He stressed that the unpreparedness of the country for the expected flood poses danger to the people’s life, properties as well as food security because farmers would likely lose production.
To this end, the agric-economist urged government to urgently construct buffer dams as earlier promised during the last devastated flood experience or make ready the Kashimbilla Dam on time to save its citizens another series of nightmare.
“Preliminary analysis should be undertaken by the federal government. This is because the last flooding was occasioned by the release of water from the Lagdo Dam which means the flooding was not natural.
“Government has said that the Kashimbilla Dam would be constructed to trap water from the Lagdo Dam, I don’t know at the moment to which extent government’s promise in this direction has been fulfilled.
“But they must be on top of the situation to ensure that during flooding this year the release would not have effect on our environment. The major thing for government to do is to construct a buffer dam that would trap water,” Penda maintained.
Culled from Dailytrust
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