2022 FLOODING: “Will Recharge Ground Water System and Improve Water Volume
By Gloria Abutu
The flooding experienced in Nigeria in 2022 despite the attendant devastation, will recharge the ground water system and improve the volume of ground water for domestic and industrial use.
The Head of Geology Department, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Dr. Yunis Valdon stated this while speaking to Radio Nigeria on the positive impact of the 2022 flood on the country.
In 2022, Nigeria experienced flooding which ravaged homes, infrastructure and large areas of farmland across the country.
Over 600 people died and more than I million people were displaced with 34 states affected.
The Head of Geology Department, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Dr. Yunis Valdon said the impact of the flooding was devastating, resulting in psychosocial effect on the victims.
The geologist however said despite the destruction, the flood has immense benefits to the environment, including the ability to recharge the ground water system, thereby creating availability of ground water.
He added that the flood waters will help to wash away debris from the environment, as well as improve the nutritional value of the soil in some areas such as the Benue Valley, which will result in bountiful harvest for farmers this dry season.
He attributed urbanization, indiscriminate felling of trees and dumping of refuse as well as other human activities as factors responsible for flooding.
Dr. Valdon therefore advised people to desist from building structures on flood prone areas and to heed to early warnings by authorities such as the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET and the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to mitigate the devastating effects of flooding.
NEMA has warned Nigerians to expect worse flooding in 2023 and urged government at all levels to take positive steps to alleviate the impact of the impending natural disaster.
