Communities have been advised to revive the culture of dredging and refrain from blocking drainages.
The traditional ruler of Nnemere Mpam in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Eze Philip Onu gave the advice while reacting to the flooding ravaging lives and properties in many parts of the country, particularly riverine areas.
He expressed worry that other liked calamities may behalf level land dwellers if threats to the habitat due to human activities are not checked.
The traditional ruler emphasized on regular dredging of ponds (iyiala), rivers, lakes and rivulets, stressing need for river bank with controlled overflow outlets to dykes and dams.
He cautioned against erection of buildings on open spaces and swamps or close to river banks while underscoring the importance of environmental impact assessment, planned urbanization and heeding to early climatic warning.
Eze Onu commiserated with the flood disaster victims, praying governments at all levels to ensure adequate cushioning effects and security of the evacuated persons and resettlement after temporary camps.
The royal father lamented food shortage heightened by the scenario and encouraged improved agro inputs dry season planting to augment loses.
He lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the Agriculture Reform Agenda and visit to flooded areas as well as camped victims in various states to ascertain the level of damage.
The traditional ruler also appreciated measures taken to mitigate the excruciating ordeal but cautioned against diversion of relief materials meant for displaced victims while advocating adequate framework in place to forestall future occurrence.
Eze Onu pointed out that African countries, especially Nigeria are lucky compared to European and Asian countries, intermittently ravaged by flood, hurricane, tsunami, earthquake and landslide, beckoning on governments, non-governmental organizations, individuals, groups and corporate bodies globally to come to the aid of the affected communities.
