By Ngozi Nwankwo
The Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal has assured the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Umara Zulum and the people of Borno state of the Federal government’s unalloyed support on the aftermath of the catastrophic and devastating flood that recently occurred in Maiduguri metropolis and other areas of the state.
The Minister gave the assurances while on a courtesy visit to the Governor of Borno State in his office for on- the -spot assessment of the flood incident that ravaged the state.
Abbas Lawal disclosed that the team from the Federal Ministry of Environment which comprises of Pollution Control and Environmental Health Department, Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACreSAL), Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON), NEWMAP and National Park Service (NPC) are working tirelessly with Borno State Government and International partners to control the aftermath of the flood through recovery and mitigation efforts to ensure that the state becomes resilient to the effects of climate change and other environmental hazards.
The Minister reiterated that the aftermath of the flood is a very serious issue that requires all hands to be on deck to curtail the devastating challenges.
He disclosed that his Ministry as a matter of urgency is carrying out continuous water sampling and tests to take measures to prevent waterborne diseases due to decomposed bodies of animals and humans and damaged sewage lines, thereby carrying out studies to identify immediate and remote causes of the flooding to take measures against future occurrences.
“The Ministry is committed to ensuring that all necessary resources and technical support be mobilized to assist Borno State in addressing the environmental challenges posed by the flood”, he added.
Responding, The Executive Governor of Borno State Prof. Umara Zulum commended the Minister and his team for visiting and identifying with Borno state in such a trying period. He also emphasized on the need to work together to develop medium and long-term measures to ensure that the state becomes resilient to the effects of climate change and other environmental hazards.
The governor further stated on the need for collaborative efforts to conserve the ecosystem, protect flora and fauna, carry out hydrological rehabilitation, and the conduct of a study to establish immediate and remote causes of the floods .
Zulum further requested the support of ACRESAL in desilting of the river banks,
raising the issue of elephants vandalizing farmlands as their habitats are flooded forcing them to migrate to other whilst emphasizing on the need to find ways to manage them as the State does not want to breach any international convention on handling wildlife species.
The team from the Federal Ministry of Environment and it’s Agencies in collaboration with Borno state government and donor organisations are to work on the following areas.
Hospitals, schools, and markets that have been submerged; Damage in infrastructure, which includes bridges. The most troubling is the contamination of water bodies due to sewerage system collapse, decomposing animal and human bodies still being evacuated as well as flooded factories and hospitals. These could be sources of medical and hazardous wastes and chemicals into water bodies.
Other areas included evacuation of people in high-risk areas to safer ground which is ongoing; Priority needs such as shelter, clean water, and food; and Interventions to prevent disease outbreaks in camps and other evacuation sites which are highly required.
The Minister was accompanied on the trip with the Permanent Secretary, Mahmoud Adam Kambari, Director of PRS, the National Project Coordinator for ACReSAL,Green Bond Program, the Conservator – General of the National Park Service, the Director of Press, among others.