Renowned Niger Delta environmental rights activist and development advocate Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff, PhD, on Monday, July 27, urged governors across the Niger Delta states to take immediate, pragmatic steps to reduce the impact of impending floods forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
In a statement, Mulade, who is also the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) and Ibe-Sorimowei of the Gbaramatu Kingdom expressed alarm at what he described as political leaders’ persistent neglect of citizens’ welfare. He warned that failure to act proactively could lead to severe humanitarian and environmental consequences across the region.
“The recurring flood disasters in the Niger Delta continue to inflict severe hardship,” Mulade noted, stating that many families and communities affected by the historic 2012 floods and later incidents have not fully recovered. He blamed the repetition of such disasters on governments’ failure to implement sustainable flood prevention and disaster-management measures.
Mulade, urged governors to collaborate with federal agencies, emergency management organisations, local government authorities and community stakeholders to develop and implement effective flood mitigation strategies.
He called specifically for Evacuation plans for high risk communities, desilting of waterways and drainage channels, Strengthening of emergency-response mechanisms, Provision of relief materials and medical care, Sustained public awareness campaigns.
He listed Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states as historically worst affected by seasonal flooding to lead the preventive efforts, stressing that “proactive planning, intergovernmental collaboration and genuine commitment to citizens’ welfare” are vital to averting another large-scale disaster.
NiMet had earlier issued a flash-flood risk alert for July 1–10 across 27 states, warning that widespread rainfall as the country enters the peak of the rainy season could trigger flooding.
Mulade’s appeal comes as communities in the Niger Delta face heightened vulnerability if mitigation steps are not taken quickly.