Igali: Instance Southern area Korea, Nigeria Must do River Knowledge so you’re able to Avert Flood Crisis

Previous Permanent Secretary out-of Federal Ministry out-of H2o Tips and you may Expert Chancellor away from Federal College or university out of Tech, Akure, Ambassador Godknows Igali, inside interview that have Chuks Okocha talks on which Nigerian government must do in order to avert flood disaster in the future plus the recurring hit of the social college lecturers

The fresh impression of this year’s flood has been enormous. Same as it just happened on ten years ago, besides the fresh new East Western Road, the hyperlink Roadway regarding PortHarcourt to help you Bayelsa was basically removing, the link Highway out of Delta so you’re able to Bayelsa condition could have been removed away from on account of flooding. You’ve been a primary player contained in this nation. Have you been maybe not worried?

l have always been very worried as I was designed to go homeward in order to Bayelsa. Easily in the morning lucky to acquire a friend that have a personal spraying and that i travel from the sky so you’re able to Bayelsa, I am able to nonetheless will be unable to go out of the airport since the street you to links brand new airport on the financial support city is actually damaged with the two. If i now travel normal industrial trip and you may land in Vent-Harcourt, the trail within Ahoda that backlinks Bayelsa is busted to your one or two. Very Bayelsa nowadays is very unreachable. The only way I will can Bayelsa is when We will Lagos, I-go by-boat and it will just take us to my personal village. It is a critical number. Everbody knows, Bayelsa ‘s the past county in the united states. Our company is the final local government, really riverine, really seaside it is therefore an extremely large challenge.

Easily say i’d like to go to Asaba, the trail linking Bayelsa at Ughelli was busted into several

You will find stayed that have flood for centuries however the improvement would be the fact that have environment transform, this new ton liquid is starting to become bigger than what the ancestors used to play but while the our company is in a flood plain, our company is for the a good wetland, the past county all of the liquid leads to Bayelsa county. You understand River Niger travelled completely out of Futajelon and you may it’s from our believe that the water goes into brand new Atlantic Ocean. Therefore we are widely used to so it, yearly, we plan it.

We need to see those individuals reports and you can give her or him up

You don’t listen to far noises out-of Bayelsa as the we have been born into ton and we was managing it. Yesterday it named me, the ground flooring off the house could have been totally overtaken up to the stage of window as well as went every thing doing top of the floor. Therefore we shall will always be this way for up to 30 days before the drinking water decreases. It’s a negative state; people was basically displaced and people like me can be hightail it to help you Port Harcourt or Abuja however, a great deal out-of villagers take place back to you to put.

However, I would like to uncovered my mind on this flood topic. I was the fresh permanent Assistant ministry out of water resources if the 2012 flood took place below my sight.

If ton took place 10 years back, we’d selection of courses. I canvassed they while the Minister agreed and we brought in all of the masters towards Nigeria. I earned Nigerian professors out of Geoscience, Geophysics, Hydrology, Hydro physics, whichever related abuse, we lead him or her from around the world and we also sat getting an entire month and you may deliberated towards the ways to long lasting ton inside the Nigeria.

I found myself advised a week ago that we have always been nonetheless a part and i also are never necessary a meeting for the majority of age today. I am also a member of a committee entitled Dangote Panel with the 2012 flood and i also is actually the latest chairman of the sub panel into the Ton Readiness.