The torrential downpour from rain and its consequences have come against pre-warnings that the resultant flooding will destroy crops, houses, schools, and businesses including the losses of lives, with many injured and countless losing their livelihoods, while millions will be displaced.
The loud shout for immediate action on the effects of global warming and climate change and its consequences in flooding resulting from the climate emergency is now. It is most tragic and pitiable that most residents of the states ravaged by the flooding in Nigeria now pull up canoe boats in front of their houses to access the outside outlet to reach their various destinations while waiting for the government both in the state and federal, for actions that could bail them out of the condition and mitigate their affected economic and social conditions. The images captured of the consequential menace of the heavy rains are nauseating with men, women and their children largely affected with life-impacting consequences wading in waterlogged streets after the flooding.
Everybody’s support is needed to draw attention to the urgent need to act on climate change and protect millions impacted by its negative effects. Materials in forms of sleeping foams, food products, health facilities and money should urgently be provided to mitigate the damaging effects of the flooding on states which have forced many into displacement from their ancestral homes. Women and children are mostly at risk in these deteriorating conditions and the most in need of assistance. Hence, the government should act decisively to assist and give them help to secure everyone’s rights to safety and health.
Before the ravaging floods, gender inequality and discrimination were pervasive in Nigeria. Most women lacked access to quality sexual and reproductive health care. Now, with fewer resources, the country’s already-abysmal maternal mortality rates are sure to increase with obvious socio-economic consequences on the children that could be brought out from such family settings. Those affected should not lose hope and the government too must act to join families of the survivors to reclaim their losses and secure their human rights.
The governments, friends of the affected states and the international community must prioritise the health and wellbeing of those negatively impacted, women and children to rise in assistance to rescue, and send relief, and rehabilitation materials to cushion the devastating effects of the seemingly unavoidable bad conditions on the people. The government and politicians should not ignore how the people who voted them into power and who will file out in the next elections to vote or renew their mandates are presently suffering due to flooding. The men, women and children who are qualified to vote now will use the election period to pay back. The fidelity of the voters will largely be determined by the responses of the government to their plights now.
- Erubami is the convener, Coalition for Democracy in Nigeria.
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