AVM (rtd) Akugbe Iyamu
Three variables can be right at the same time, thesis, antithesis and synthesis: this is the Hegelean dialectic of the Mokwa flooding disaster.
Some say it was a dam breach, others blamed blocked drains, unregulated buildings or climate change. The truth is it was a deadly mixture of neglect and a crisis fuelled by climate change.
What I can deduce from the whole issue is a flash flood disaster that the community was ill prepared for. This clearly showed that there has never been any second thinking to disaster management in Nigeria and the absence of well thought out strategy for dealing with the fallout.
The combination of the 2 shortcomings translated to rapid and major disasters in lokoja, Maiduguri and now Mokwa.
It is comforting that the federal government has donated 2 billion to rebuild the community from the almost irreversible consequences.
However, Mokwa flooding again represents a huge dent in a country where the informal sector account for 93% of the labour.
This is the time to spend smarter and better especially in this catastrophic disaster that directly impacts the welfare and productivity of the Mokwa people.
I hope the 2 billion Naira will get to the people of Mokwa because this is not the time for dismal promises littered with wasteful and bogus items that neither reflects the citizens tough times nor align with the priorities of the people of Mokwa.
Going forward, the country certainly need significant improvement in pre flooding prevention and mitigation of the people who are bearing the overwhelming shock of climate change crisis. That is why the visit by the Vice President to present appropriate succour may be pointless if the desired framework and strategy is not employed.
At the time the 40 million SMEs are fast dwindling due to the unfavourable economic policies to contribute 48% to the economy, the Mokwa flooding will negatively affect providing job for around 84% of Nigerians where 96% of all businesses in Nigeria are SMEs.
What the citizens of Mokwa want to see in government action is over and above what they are seeing today in their daily lives.
There is good behind alleviating the suffering of the Mokwa community but the 2 billion Naira from the Federal government but must not be reduced to political fisticuffs. This is the time to successfully experiment with the National Disaster Response Plan and National Contingency Plans.
This has become a matter of necessity if disaster management must cut across and achieve the goals of making life easier for citizens during disaster management.
Like the case of Mokwa and Maiduguri, there will be more disaster challenges, that is the nature of life.
That is why Mokwa need to become a vast construction site recognizing that restoration of infrastructure in the locality will be the bedrock of restoring lives and livelihoods in the community.
Two billion Naira should be the the foundation of ambitious plan to rebuild, rehabilitate and reimagine the community physical development.
From the rejuvenation of infrastructure, Mokwa communities will be stitched back together community by community.
At the period of uncertainty and grief, the government need to urgently stabilise the lives of the people of Mokwa, energize their economy and show that rescue and restoration is not only possible but superior because the extensive economic haemorrhage is multiplied by the fact that the people of Mokwa and vicinity operate in the informal sector as traders, shop owners, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, retailers of motley merchandise.
Additionally, the disaster has shut down the economic space closing schools, a situation that is counter productive to the survival of humanity.
Access to healthcare and other essential services has also become perilous and a recurring anectodal evidence with a concerning human cost.
After the disaster, all critical stakeholders must join efforts to quickly give life to the people of Mokwa. There is an urgent need for the Federal government to work towards the healing the trauma being nursed by the people of Mokwa.
AVM (Rtd) Iyamu is the President of the Association of Environmental Protection and Climate Change Practitioners.
