NAN-H-9
Food
Lagos, Sept. 8, 2017 (NAN) A don, Prof. Olufemi Ajayi, has advised the Federal and State Governments to urgently introduce far-reaching measures to curb flooding which may result in food scarcity in the country.
Ajayi, of the Faculty of Agriculture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
He said that the country could be heading toward food scarcity if immediate measures were not taken to curb flooding across the country.
The don said that a lot of farm produce were washed away in the recent flooding in some states in the country, especially Benue.
“Did we prepare for Climate Change? No, I do not think so.
“Now that they say we are getting out of economy recession is the time for us to take drastic measures that will protect our environment, lives and property.
“Benue just experienced flooding; a lot of farm produce were washed away and farmers rendered homeless.
“This means we are journeying into another food scarcity because of the critical role of the state in food production.
“We may not know the effect now, until when those produce were supposed to be ready for market; that is when we will realise that there is a problem.
“Food produce are distributed to many parts of the country, but this may be affected in the next harvest season,’’ he said.
The professor said that government must make immediate plans on how to salvage the situation and reclaim the farms so that farmers could return to work.
Ajayi said that many farmers had lost millions of investments to the flood, noting that flood prevention should be a mandatory subject in schools, especially flood-prone areas like Lagos.
“Government must identify vulnerable communities, identify safer grounds in all flood-prone communities as temporary shelter locations, and sensitise the people in such areas.
“The government must expand drainages, construct new drainage, and demolish structures that are blocking waterways,’’ the professor said.
He urged government to move fast to enhance awareness on prevention of flooding and other natural disasters. (NAN)
OOG/FLP/WOJ
(Edited by Folorunso Poroye / Wale Ojetimi)