Dam rivers to curb flood, expert tells govt

By Adekola Afolabi

A suggestion has gone to government at all levels to dam rivers across the country as a way of curbing flooding and ensuring food security.

An agronomist, Dr Emmanuel Moyinjesu who gave the suggestion while speaking with The Hope said  rivers can be used for irrigation, hydro electric generation and water transportation if they are dammed.

While saying that flooding is a real threat to agriculture, Moyinjesu said if rivers are allowed to just flow without any specific use, the volume will increase and will result in flooding.

Another thing that can be done to curb flooding according to him is channelisation of waterways so that there can be free flow.

 He called on ministries of environment and agriculture to collaborate and ensure blockage of waterways are removed.

 He harped on the need to educate the masses on the danger of dumping refuse in waterways, which according to him block waterways and hamper free flow of water.

 Moyinjesu, who called on government to build silos to store surplus in the year there is no flooding, urged them to ensure that farmers insure their farms against natural disasters to avoid total loss in case it happens.

 Speaking on the effect of the flooding experienced last year, Moyinjesu said supply of food will be low, demand will increase resulting in increase in price.

” Flooding is a natural disaster and it is caused by the activities of man, we fell trees, we burn tyres and all manner of things and these increase the gases in the atmosphere resulting in depletion of the ozone layer.

“So, there must be a holistic approach on the part of government to ensure food security. Because of what happened last year now, prices of food will increase and people will have to eat.

“Relevant agencies must have the knowledge that the weather is changing and that the sea level is rising and it can result in natural disaster. The rainfall pattern has changed and the weather is not conducive. So it requires a holistic approach for issues like these to be curbed.

“The solution to flooding is to dam our rivers and use them for specific uses like irrigation, generating of hydro electricity and even using them for water transportation,” he said.