Meterological Forecasts, Response And Follow Up

NATURE has  been very fair to  Africa and  West Africa in particular. Reports of natural disasters are so minimal  and often un-imaginable. From other continents  are rainstorms, volcanic eruptions, landslides, typhoons  and several  other natural disasters. Outside this  region are wars and drums of war. But they do not come near us.  We  only   see footage and  video clips of  disasters  from the other lands and how quickly they overcome  such and move on with their lives. In Hiati, Japan, Texas, natural disasters blew away bridges, electricity poles, flood wash  away bridges, rail lines  and many other facilities.  Hours later such were promptly  replaced and lives  moved on.

    OVER here,  public officials misappropriate resources that would have provided  the  infrastructure in the first place. Any doubting Thomas should ask Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, National  Integrated Power Project, Federal Road Maintenance Agency among others.  Because  it is a zone of comfort, government  business is handled  with impunity and carelessness.

BUT there was a turning point in  2018 when the  Nigeria Meterological  Agency was so professional, proactive and detailed. It was  able to forecast imminent  flooding in 2019 and identified flash spots. In spite of repeated warnings,  2019 came with the floods and disaster  as  predicted.

WE did not know of any public official  queried for negligence and dereliction of duty. Perhaps, it was admitting that  it was in our character.

 HOWEVER, Nigeria is expected to have learnt  some lessons from the flooding of the  primary school in Delta State where Success was a pupil . Ayetoro community and environs in Ondo State have  definitely  started to receive rehearses from   the ‘exile’. Unexecuted  and abandoned  projects in  their environs and other communities must have been identified by the local contractors and public officials.

 HOPEFULLY,  the  rain would  come in  again  2020 erosion. Flood are  also known to  maintain their  routes and do not deliberately  seek  new paths! It is therefore of essence  to ask what is in stock for Nigerians this year. We of  The Hope   are eager to  know how much Urban and Regional Planning Authority has achieved in Akungba and all places  the reclamation of land provoked flooding last year.  We also want to know what progress has been made on construction   of embankment in Ayetoro zone to prevent the ocean  from further washing away the communities. Beyond that, what innovations have been evolved  at the local, state and national levels to correct mistakes of the past?.

FOR example, the Federal Emergency and Disaster Commission and the state were  caught  napping last year, have they been awaken from their slumber? How much rehabilitation has been  extended to  the  victims of 2018 disaster and what measure  are put in place  to cater for the vulnerable including the old, the young and the physically challenged?

THIS is an opportunity Nigerians  state must  seize to mobilize the people to identify abandoned projects  in their communities so that  contractors that awarded the projects are  made to execute them. The panel on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to  recover such projects must mobilize people for necessary supports. Ondo State Government must also cause  the   State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, OSOPADEC, to give account of itself, it  would be glad to have a  disaster free year even though  we believe that vigilance  is of essence. Few days into the new year, there  were  reports  of fire disasters in Lagos, Edo and Oyo States among others. It is time to step up public education  on the  prevention of fire outbreak. Again, various public non-governmental organizations should embark on  mass education on how to handle associated  disasters  bearing in mind that harmattan has returned after some  years of   absence.

APART from the fire brigade approach,  adequate monitoring of  market places,  event guards should  ‘lamp  an  eagle eye’ in the farms  to  check bush burning arising  from hunting and careless handing of fire and explosives.

LASTLY,  technology has advanced so much in making life more comfortable . It must be embraced by policy makers to supply necessary  data for policy making such information must not only be understood, but be adequately employed for public good. The public must also be encouraged to employ weather forecast to guide them on their   daily routine.

THE HOPE  commends the Meterological Agency for excellence in its forecasts  about  2019  and would encourage it to keep the  brilliant, professional performance  this  year.