FG urges Nigerians to embrace climate education, environmental responsibility to reduce flood risks
FG urges Nigerians to embrace climate education, environmental responsibility to reduce flood risks
The Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters,Comrade Yussuf Olatunji Kelani, to imbibe climate friendly practices to avoid the risk of flooding as the raining season intensifies.
In a statement he signed and made available to journalists, he called for more investment in climate resilience.
According to him, flooding should no longer be treated as a seasonal inconvenience but as a national climate risk requiring strategic planning, sustained investment, and collective responsibility.
“As the rains continue to intensify across Nigeria, the recent flooding that has affected Lagos and several other parts of the country should serve as a national wake up call.
” While the immediate images of submerged roads, stranded commuters, damaged homes, and disrupted businesses dominate headlines, the deeper message is that climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern.
“It is a present day national development challenge demanding urgent, coordinated, and sustained action. “
According to him, the devastating floods witnessed in Lagos recently once again exposed the vulnerability of many of urban centres.
“Residential communities, commercial districts, schools, hospitals, and transport corridors were severely impacted within hours of heavy rainfall,” he said.
He noted that reports from environmental experts indicate that many flood-prone areas across Lagos remain highly vulnerable, warning that the most severe part of the rainy season may still lie ahead if preventive measures are not urgently implemented.
“Similar concerns are echoed across several parts of the country where rainfall intensity continues to increase due to changing climatic conditions,” he said.
The presidential added that state governments, local government authorities, traditional institutions, community associations, religious organizations, and households all have important roles to play in reducing flood risks before disaster strikes.
He said although countries around the globe are facing increasingly severe climate-induced flooding, disasters arising from flooding can be prevented.
He said flood prevention begins with every citizen, adding that government has a constitutional responsibility to provide resilient infrastructure and effective disaster management systems.
He however, noted that climate resilience cannot be achieved through government action alone.
According to him, every Nigerian has a role to play, saying that one of the most common causes of urban flooding is the indiscriminate disposal of waste into drainage channel.
” Plastic bottles, nylon bags, refuse, construction debris, and other solid waste frequently block gutters and waterways, preventing the free flow of stormwater, ” he said .
He said as responsible citizens, we must: “Regularly clear drainage systems around our homes and business premises.
“Never dump refuse into gutters, canals, rivers, or waterways.
“Participate actively in environmental sanitation exercises.
“Remove illegal structures obstructing natural drainage channels where required by law.
“Plant trees and support environmental restoration efforts.
“Report blocked drainage infrastructure to relevant authorities.
“Pay attention to weather advisories and emergency warnings. “