Talking Point: Floods And Man’s Wickedness To Man
7 min read
John ODHE, Yenagoa
In Nigeria, everything seems to be going in the opposite direction. It seems, and truly so, that there is wickedness flowing in our Doexyribonucleic Acid (DNA). We are globally ranked among, if not the poorest countries in the world, yet, we often indulge in sharp practices in order to get brisk riches.
If not, why should flood disaster, a natural cataclysm, for that matter, become a means of making illicit wealth through exploitation to the detriment of victims of the carnage itself?
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency predicted more floods in 2022 than last year due to excessive rainfalls and contributions from external flows such as the dam in Cameroon. The 2022 flood is said to have surpassed the 2012 flood which remains the highest flood disaster in the history of Nigeria.
The floods in 27 of Nigeria’s 36 states and capital city have affected millions of people and displaced hundreds of thousands of people, NEMA had said. The disaster has also destroyed thousands of hectares of farmlands, worsening fears of a disruption of food supply in Africa’s most populous country.
Since 2012, “this is the highest we ever had,” said Manzo Ezekiel, a spokesperson for the disaster management agency. Nigeria records flooding every year often as a result of non-implementation of environmental guidelines and inadequate infrastructure.
Authorities are blaming this year’s flood on water overflowing from some local rivers, unusual rainfalls and the release of excess water from Lagdo dam in neighbouring Cameroon’s northern region.
According to relevant authorities, the 2022 ravaging flood has already claimed over 600 lives across the nation especially in the Niger Delta region which is the lowest part of the country, laying below the sea level. One thing about the flood is that it affects almost everyone in the affected areas either directly or indirectly.
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In Bayelsa state, the flood has wrecked serious havoc. Many have lost their loved ones. It is needless mentioning the unforgettable, painful whipping away of a family of five whose vehicle was swept and buried into a raging current. Souls have gone. What about farmlands? What about properties that have been consumed by the merciless flood? Thousands have been displaced and made homeless.
At Sabagreia community in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa state, the people now cohabit with dangerous reptiles. A giant crocodile was found in someone’s parlour.
As it were, the flood came, attacking everything and everyone on its right of way, not minding whose horse is gored. The residence of the former president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was not spared either. Both great and small, rich and poor alike are passing through the agony that came with the flood.
Artificial Hardship Created By Heartless Beings.
Ordinarily, everyone was supposed to be his or her brother’s keeper and collectively fight against the natural occurrence. Unfortunately, man turns out to be the worst enemy of his fellow man, creating factitious difficulties for the already debilitated and dejected flood victims.
For instance, dispensers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) commonly known as petrol have immediately conspired and placed the price of the product which they already had in stock at an all time high amount of N500 per litre in Bayelsa state when the original price is N170. As if that wicked act is not enough, the fuel filling stations also hoard the product and are secretly selling same to black marketers who in turn retail it to the end users at a cutthroat price of N700 per litre. No act can be more cruel than this, not even the flood disaster itself.
Consequently, motorists are left with no option than to increase their fares by over four hundred per cent as the case may be, thereby subjecting commuters to a double-headed flood tragedy. For instance, from Yenizue-gene to Swali in the state capital which used to be N100 is now N500.
As a result of the negative multiplier effect of the unheard-of fuel increase, foodstuff dealers did not waist anytime than to immediately increase their prices right there in their shops. A rubber of garri which used to sell for N1,000 now sells for N2,500. The same applies to all other commodities in the market places in the state capital and other places that were spared by the flood.
Diri’s Outcry
Overwhelmed by the effects of the flood, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has urged the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on the rampaging flood that has devastated lives and property in the state and others in the country.
Senator Diri made the call at an emergency security council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
He said the essence of the meeting was to brainstorm with heads of various security agencies to assess the situation holistically and seek ways to mitigate the impact of the natural disaster.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah quoted the governor as lamenting the magnitude of this year’s flooding, which he noted had surpassed that of 2012. His words: “This year’s flooding has surpassed that of 2012, which is the highest we have witnessed so far. It has become a security emergency.
“Bayelsa is below sea level and when the flood comes, virtually everywhere is flooded. Even the Government House is being threatened.
“The flooding had severely impacted communities, homes and road infrastructure, which had resulted in the state being cut off from neighbouring states of Rivers and Delta.
“As we speak, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its strike. But as universities are opening, our own state university cannot open because the only road linking the university has been broken into three parts.
“The only road that links Opokuma and Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area and the only one also connecting Sagbama to Ekeremor that is still under construction has been broken. There is hunger and palpable tension in the state.”
Diri cautioned those peddling false information and protesting over a water channel project undertaken by the state government at the Okutukutu and Opolo axis of Yenagoa, the state capital, to desist from the act.
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It Shall Be Over
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa state governor has sent was of encouragement to the citizens, stating that the 2022 flood palaver, like previous years, shall also pass.
This is coming after governor Douye Diri had recently released the sum of N450 million to mitigate the effects of the disaster in the state.
In a state-wide broadcast, the governor described the flood situation as dire, noting that over a million people in over 300 communities in the state have been internally displaced amidst some recorded deaths. He added that the narrative is the same across Sagbama, Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, Yenagoa, Nembe and Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Areas while businesses have been shut, properties lost and farm lands destroyed.
He said: “My dear people of Bayelsa State, I know these are indeed trying times and you have my assurance that I will stand with you through every step of the recovery process. The Bayelsa State Task Force on Flood Mitigation and Management in liaison with the State Emergency Management Agency has established IDP Camps , and providing relief materials for victims of the flood. I have also directed that the distribution of these relief materials should be done in a nonpartisan manner. We are all first and foremost Bayelsans.
“The Task Force can be reached through the following numbers: 08050581188 and 08166428624. I have directed all Civil Servants except those on essential duties to be given time off from work for the next one week.
“Let me make a special appeal to vendors, particularly of fuel, food, water and pharmaceuticals not to exploit the situation. We must be our brothers’ keeper. Government has also observed that at such moments of distress, some miscreants take advantage of the vulnerable population to commit crime. Let me make it clear that we will continue to have zero tolerance for crime and criminality.
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“I know that we are all impacted by this situation, either directly or indirectly. I am also not unaware of the support and love you have shown to each other at this time of adversity. I am deeply inspired by your resilience and solidarity. This is the authentic Ijaw spirit. I salute you all.
“We serve a miraculous God who will not leave us nor forsake us. Be assured and strengthened by the words from our state memory verse in Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
