The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) on Tuesday expressed sympathy to victims of the recent flood that struck Mokwa town in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, urging governments to adopt a proactive strategy to avert flood disasters.

HOMEF, an ecology focused group, recalled that flooding has become a persistent nightmare in Nigeria, adding that in 2012, floods affected 33 out of the 36 states following the rain that fell between July and October that year.

The Non-Governmental Organisation conveyed its sympathies in a statement by Miss Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead at HOMEF.

According to HOMEF, the floods displaced over 2 million people, resulting in more than 400 deaths and other associated destruction.

It also recalled that in 2018, the Benue and Niger Rivers overflowed due to heavy rainfall, causing flooding in 12 states, including Kogi and Niger and four years later, in 2022, another severe flood killed over 600 individuals, displacing more than 2 million others.

The group noted that the impacts of these floods have been catastrophic for communities and states.

The May 29, flood was preceded by heavy rainfall that displaced over 3000 residents, destroyed properties, and claimed over 200 lives, with many individuals still unaccounted for.

?While mourning this tragic loss, HOMEF emphasises that the government must take proactive measures to prevent similar or worse incidents from occurring in the future,? HOMEF stated.

The statement quoted Executive Director of HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, in his reaction to the recent flood incident in Niger State, as noting that communities and cities in flood-prone areas could seize to exist if nothing is done to address the menace.

?This is a horrendous recurring decimal. There is no word to describe our lack of preparedness and our ill-maintained infrastructure.

?Combined with insecurity and the fact that more rain is expected, the displacement problems will be compounded. There is no time for excuses.

?This is the time to declare an environmental state of emergency across board. This national emergency can impact our national wellbeing by leading to food scarcity, environmental degradation, mass displacement, increased poverty, water-borne diseases and exacerbate insecurity,? Bassey said.

He drew attention to forecasts and early warnings from different agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He expressed disappointment, emphasising that these warnings become meaningless if provisions are not made to move people and settle them on safe and higher ground.

?Nigeria needs to be proactive; our government needs to have emergency preparedness and be able to relocate people when these warnings and forecasts are made, to avert the kinds of disasters we see when flooding events like this occur.

?We sympathise with the families affected by the floods and stand in solidarity with the communities that have been impacted,? he said.

Also, Stephen Oduware, Programme Manager of Fossil Politics at HOMEF, noted that flood damage continues to escalate, making recovery challenging and problematic.

?The rains are just beginning, and there are signs of more flash floods. Apart from the usual palliative measures and reactionary responses, what plans are in place to ensure that the already predicted localised heavy rainfalls do not result in the kinds of catastrophes we witness during floods?

?What is the Nigerian government doing to address the issues of flooding holistically? When floods occur, they leave a trail of destruction, causing damage to properties, loss of lives, livelihoods, and other socioeconomic impacts,? he said.

HOMEF said it believes that flooding is both a consequence of climate change and a result of poorly planned urban areas and inadequate emergency preparedness.

The group noted that while the effects of climate change are widespread, many Nigerian cities and towns are also beset by the latter.

?HOMEF calls for immediate measures to address the root cause of climate change, for improvement on practices that preserve natural habitats and wetlands, and investment in infrastructure that can help reduce the frequency and seriousness of flooding.

?HOMEF calls on all relevant agencies to work together in a fully synchronised manner to ensure that every facet of the disaster is addressed and succour is extended to the impacted people,? the group stated

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