Flooding Control:FG urged on large capacity dams -- Yahaya

Dam

Authorities building dams in Nigeria, have been advised to ensure that the structures are durable and bigger, to be able to withstand the large volume of water released these by rainfall these days, as a result of climate change.

 A Former Director, Erosion, Flood Control and Coastal Zone Management, Federal Ministry of Environment, Engr. Bawuro Yahaya, gave the advice against the backdrop of different calls on Federal and State governments to construct buffer dams, for sustainable flood management.

Yahaya, said dams in the country were not originally planned to withstand large volumes of water , thus explaining why historic dams such as Kainji Dam built in 1968, and Jebba Dam built in 1985 , as well as recent ones, cannot protect  the country against the flash flood being expected based on prediction.

While advising on medium scale dams, he said governments should approach River Basin Development Authorities in the country, for advice on the specifications of dams that are suitable this time.

The flood management expert also called on Federal government in-particular to establish settlements upland, where farmers in flood plains would be sheltered during the heart of rainy season, when flood disasters are expected, while they return to the plans during dry season to continue with their farming.

Contributing, the Head of Department, Geography, Nasarawa State University, Keffi,  Dr. Nasiru Idris said the Kainji and Shirroro Dams on the axis of the River Nigeria that usually overflows during times of high precipitation, should be upgraded, to not only control flood but also enhance power generation.

Dams which are barriers constructed mostly across  water bodies or channels, to hold back water and raise their levels, serve, several purposes, such as promoting irrigation farming, water supply and hydro-electric power generation.

Nigeria is said to have over 15 dams with most of them in the northern regions, where there are used mostly for agricultural purposes and power generation.

Analysts and relevant agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have said that the country could avert heavy loss to flood incidents if the government had constructed buffer dams to hold flood waters.