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An aerial view of houses submerged by flooding and residents giving information to officials of the National Emergency Management Agency in Maiduguri…on Tuesday. Photos: AFP
The Society for Planet and Prosperity, an environmental NGO, has called for urgent climate action and support for the victims of the devastating flood disaster in Borno State.
This was said in a statement signed by the Communications Officer, SPP, Ugochukwu Uzuegbu, in Lagos on Monday.
Uzuegbu said the SPP expressed deep sadness and commiserated with the government and people of Bornu State over the flood disaster that recently struck the state.
He noted that the tragic event, triggered by the collapse of the Alau Dam, resulted in numerous casualties, loss of lives and widespread destruction of livelihoods.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency, the incident claimed the lives of over 30 people, with at least 414,000 people displaced.
NEMA also estimated that over one million people had been affected by flooding across the country, with many communities at risk.
Uzuegbu noted that while the immediate cause of the disaster was the dam’s failure, the underlying cause was climate change, which, through increased rainfall, exerted pressure on the dam, leading to its collapse.
The President of SPP, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, said, “At this point, it is crucial that we deal with the root cause of the flood given the many obvious risks and impacts of climate change.
“It has become very clear that we cannot continue to play the ostrich. This unfortunate incident is once more a rude awakening to the dangers ahead, most especially highlighting the vulnerabilities of the subnational regions that bear the brunt of these climate impacts.
“We are very troubled by this sad occurrence and advocate that urgent action be taken by governments at all levels, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to provide relief to the people of Borno State.”
Uzuegbu asserted, “As Nigeria prepares to submit her Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0, SPP strongly advocates for easier access to international finance; speedy implementation of the Loss and Damage Fund and improved funding of the Adaptation Fund to meet current needs.
“It is equally important that these resources, when available, are used efficiently and transparently, with the Subnational also able to access these funds to help them enhance their disaster preparedness, adaptation efforts and mitigation measures.
“Governments, particularly at the subnational level, must urgently implement climate vulnerability risk assessments, and develop early warning systems. They should also prioritise developing climate change policies aligned with these assessments in order to mitigate future risks.”
He stated that efforts should be made to improve climate change awareness among the people.
He added that informed communities were better equipped to adapt and embark on meaningful community-led actions against climate change.
Meanwhile, the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has initiated the distribution of relief materials to victims of the devastating floods in Maiduguri, who are now sheltering in around 36 camps.
The distribution, which kicked off on Monday at Bakasi camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri, includes essential items such as a 25kg bag of rice, a carton of pasta, and N10,000 in cash.
