Professor Olayinka Adewoye, an Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Pollution expert at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, has raised concerns about Nigeria’s ability to manage growing ecological challenges. In his analysis, he emphasised how human activities, poor planning, and negligence have worsened issues like flooding, land degradation, and food insecurity. Adewoye highlights a distinct difference between traditional methods and modern deficiencies. In the past, farmers, particularly those residing close to rivers, took measures for the rainy season by creating drainage systems to redirect excess water.
This strategy reduced flooding risks and prevented harvests. In contrast, this level of preparedness is now missing. Many communities are constructed without sufficient drainage, resulting in what Adewoye refers to as anticipated floods. These events occur when residential zones are flooded due to haphazard building practices obstructing natural water pathways. He emphasises that land designated for drainage has been sold and developed, highlighting a serious misallocation of natural resources. The recent flooding affecting several communities, particularly following the Alau Dam’s failure in Maiduguri, underscores this lack of preparation.
Lack of communication and insufficient vegetation led to widespread crises.
According to Adewoye, improved collaboration among Nigeria and neighbouring upstream nations might have averted the dam’s collapse. Nonetheless, inadequate communication and insufficient vegetation to mitigate water flow resulted in extensive destruction. He claims this represents a shortcoming in water management, stressing that the authorities could have utilised the discharged water for agricultural or energy production, particularly in the dry season. Adewoye explores the effects of land deterioration, emphasising its role in creating food shortages. He points out that Deforestation goes beyond just cutting down trees in forests; it also includes clearing trees from residential and urban zones. Trees act as natural protectors of the land, helping to prevent soil erosion. Their removal leads to losing topsoil, essential for growing crops, as rainwater washes it away.
Over time, this decline in soil fertility results in lower agricultural output, intensifying the country’s issues with food security. Urban growth, a consequence of human activity, also contributes to the environment’s decline. As cities expand and individuals migrate into urban areas, spaces allocated for drainage and crucial Infrastructure are frequently converted into residential areas. This uncontrolled expansion intensifies the potential for flooding, particularly when drainage systems are lacking or insufficient. Adewoye points to Lagos as a notable case, where unchecked development persists in areas vulnerable to flooding.
Effective drainage systems can manage the heavy rainfall in many regions.
Tackling these environmental challenges necessitates improved urban design and building strategies, particularly in areas vulnerable to flooding. Adewoye emphasises the importance of installing more efficient drainage systems to cope with the intense rainfall that characterises various regions. He points to the effective response in the Ogunpa district of Ibadan, where extreme flooding was alleviated by creating deep drainage systems spacious enough for large vehicles. Comparable approaches could benefit other vulnerable regions nationwide. Adewoye highlights the serious neglect in maintaining the current infrastructure. He insists that essential constructions, such as dams, require proper oversight, including operational monks who can manage overflow.
Sadly, the influence of Politics and a lack of skilled experts frequently result in the creation of substandard dams that struggle to meet the demands posed by modern environmental issues. Also, the loss of forests and inadequate land practices have transformed the climate, resulting in increasing occurrences of intense flooding. When rainwater flows freely into rivers and streams, the overwhelmed Waterways overflow into adjacent regions, flooding homes and damaging infrastructure. Adewoye emphasises that tackling Climate Change necessitates a comprehensive strategy involving improved natural resource management, tree-planting initiatives, and more rigorous enforcement of building regulations.
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The professor expresses worry regarding the inadequate readiness of local and national governments. He commends the Lagos State government’s initiatives to remove illegally constructed buildings near water bodies; however, he contends that these actions are insufficient nationally. According to him, the government has neglected to heed the timely alerts issued by meteorologists who forecasted this year’s flooding months. Adewoye emphasises the need for an awareness initiative regarding the risks of environmental decline to connect with every segment of society, from countryside areas to metropolitan hubs. More importantly, these initiatives should be supported by rigorous enforcement of environmental regulations.