The Federal Capital Territory was partially inundated following hours of rain on Friday, May 23, 2023, shocking Nigerians despite the fact that the relevant authorities had issued flood alerts ahead of the rainy season.
Images and videos of Trademore Estate in Abuja’s Lugbe axis being entirely submerged by flood waters served as a sharp reminder to Nigerians that the worst may still happen as the country enters the rainy months, when heavy downpours are forecast nationwide.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) officials stated last week that they had sent staff to the states to alert and prepare them for catastrophes that may come.
The proclamation did not, however, offer much comfort to Nigerians who are still in shock from last year’s experience with the biggest flood catastrophes in 10 years, which swamped 27 states.
The flood, which was brought on by a dam in Cameroon and severe rainfall in Nigeria, claimed 500 lives. Along with this, 1.4 million people were compelled to leave their homes, while agricultural and transportation infrastructure were damaged.
The weekend flood in Abuja, which damaged 116 homes, has rekindled debates about the frequency of extreme weather and the readiness of the government to face the existential threat posed by climate change.
Three environmental activists and authorities told Obasanjonews24 that the government is not ready for the repercussions of climate change.
The world, and Nigeria in particular, must acknowledge that climate change is a reality and take proactive measures, said environmental activist Washington Uba.
He emphasized that no one should be denying that climate change is happening right now in view of the impending flood calamity of 2022 and the current nightmare of some Abuja citizens.
“Right now, we can see the destruction. Uba compared individuals who deny the effects of climate change to ostriches and argued that efforts to address or adapt to climate change are being undermined. Climate change denial also has a significant impact on the politics of global warming and the created global warming issue.
He emphasized that human activity is what is creating climate change and that society needs to act immediately to stop the impending disastrous repercussions.
“Severe weather and increasing sea levels are affecting people and their property in both developed and developing countries, so we must act now.
Everyone is impacted by climate change, from a tiny farmer in the Philippines to a businessman in London, but it particularly impacts the weak and vulnerable, as well as marginalized groups like women, children, and the elderly, according to Uba.
He cautioned Nigerians about the prospect of worst-case outcomes if just rhetorical action is made to combat climate change.
“Climate change threatens to reverse much of the development progress gained in recent years if it is not stopped.
“It can also worsen existing dangers like a lack of food and water, which can spark violence, as we are already witnessing. We will ultimately lose more money by staying silent than we will by acting, he concluded.
He added: “By acting now, we save lives and money and avoid setbacks in the progress we have achieved to date.” He urged the government to take tangible steps toward “reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience.”
Professor Emmanuel Oladipupo, the head of the advisory board of the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre/Environment for Development (REPRC-EFD), expressed skepticism over the knowledge, political will, and readiness of the government at all levels to address climate change challenges.
He said to Obasanjonews24: “It is tragic how some of these communities bear the weight of ocean surge and climate change.
“This is due to the fact that the coastlines are being impacted by the rise in warmth, which has raised the sea’s water level. Additionally, as the sea warms, the surges have become much more powerful.
“We don’t have the technology to use these surges in Nigeria to produce electricity. Furthermore, it is really disappointing that our political leaders don’t seem to care about the problems associated with climate change.
He continued, “During the election campaigns, not one of them made any mention of environmental preservation or climate change. You’re having an issue right there.
Philip Jakpor, Director of Programs at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), an organization dedicated to preventing transnational businesses from harming the environment, undermining democracy, and violating human rights, also supported this claim.
He added: “During the campaigns, we heard so much about the aspirants making promises to build roads and other infrastructure, but we didn’t hear them say anything about the environment.”
He thinks Nigeria isn’t quite prepared to deal with the climate change issue adequately yet.
“Environmental consciousness is growing, but there is still work to be done so that we can also get to the point where we have like Green Parties in Nigeria who have conscious plans to address the environmental crisis in different parts of the country,” he said.
The Nigerian government and people, in his opinion, may, however, get off to a good start right away by recognizing that climate change is a reality that needs to be handled and not a hoax.
To continue to remain uninformed about the impacts of climate change, in his opinion, is unacceptable.
He said: “The melting of the polar ice has been demonstrated scientifically, and this has been established in a great deal of research. This is unquestionably true. Even if we stick to the Bible, it says that God punishes man with nature when he sins.
“The crime we perpetrated is being reflected in the environment,” the author said. Unusually strong rain is falling right now. It is melting in the polar zone. Numerous regions of the world are experiencing desertification, and wherever you go, you’ll see that conditions there have altered from what they were in the past.
“Cyclones are now occurring in Africa, something that has never happened before. Following the cyclone, we experienced a locust infestation. Currently, certain locations are being inundated at varying levels of water.
These unusual occurrences have, of course, mostly been linked to environmentally harmful activities like the massive release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Science has established everything.
