Expert urges construction of drainage systems as rainy season approaches

An environmentalist, Habib Omotosho, on Thursday urged relevant authorities to construct more drainage systems and maintain the existing ones, so as to allow free flow of water during rainy season.

Omotosho, the National Coordinator, Environmental Advancement Initiatives, an NGO, gave the advice in Abuja in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He urged the government at all levels and other relevant stakeholders to construct more culverts and widen the existing ones to facilitate free flow of water and prevent flooding.

According to him, the construction and maintenance of drainages will go a long way to contain flooding during rainy season.

‘‘During floods, the properties of people get damaged; some people even become homeless and lose their valuable possessions,’’ he said.

Omotosho said that flood-prone areas should be demarcated and equipped with floodwater diversion canals.

He said that these canals would help in diverting the surplus water to river channels, adding that the canals could also be channelled to water reservoirs or low flood impact areas.

‘‘Barriers should be constructed along the river channels. Raising the heights of the embankments and strengthening of the embankments can be seen as a temporary fix to prevent huge flood impact on the land region,’’ he said.