Plastic Wastes In Drainages, Waterways Cause Of Flooding In Benin –ERA/FoEN

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has urged the Edo State government to compel Coca Cola Company, Seven Up Bottling Company and other producers of plastics to engage in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) by taking responsibility for the plastic waste they produce. According to ERA/FoEN, the flooding experienced in Benin City and its environs is fueled by plastic waste materials that have found their way into the drainage systems and waterways. A statement by ERA/FoEN’s Communications Officer, Elvira Jordan, at the weekend, noted that the statement was the highpoint of a Return-To-Sender Action protests by ERA/FoEN and other groups in Benin City. The exercise was in collaboration with Zero Waste Ambassadors (ZEWA), Edo Civil Society Organization (EdoCSO) and Students Environmental Assembly of Nigeria (SEAN), University of Benin Chapter. The statement states that the exercise was targeted at determining the highest polluting brands. Coca Cola and Seven Up came up as the highest polluters, with a frequency rate of 33% and 23% respectively. Speaking during the action, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima Williams, represented by Babawale Obayanju said the flooding in Benin City and its environs is aggravated by the plastic waste materials that have found their way to drainage systems and waterways. He added that statistics clearly show that the identified companies are making lots of money and are equally contributing heavily to the plastic waste menace in Benin, without any waste management systems in place.  “We brought their plastic waste back to them as it is polluting our environment and based on our findings during the brand audit, The Coca-Cola Company, Seven Up Bottling Company and others primarily use plastics for their packaging, including PET bottles with plastic caps. “It is very crucial for these companies to design and develop a take-back or withdrawal scheme for their products as there are no active withdrawal schemes currently in place. Implementing the take-back/withdrawal schemes and exploring circular economy models can enhance recycling rates and reduce plastic pollution.” “We also request that The Coca-Cola Company and the other brands should have a squint at further research and development into eco-friendly packaging materials, collaborate with recycling partners, and engage with consumers to achieve its plastic reduction targets and contribute to a cleaner environment”, he stated. He called on Coca-Cola Company, Seven Up, CWAY Group and others to transition to sustainable packaging alternatives such as biodegradable materials, reusable containers, or reduced plastic packaging Also speaking, Project Officer, Waste Management of ERA/FoEN Melody Enyinnaya said the plastic pollution experienced in Benin City was appalling as manufacturers continue to produce without retrieving their waste. “This situation has thrown our environment into a dumping ground for plastics, especially our drainage systems and our rivers,” she said. Eyinnaya demanded that coca cola, seven up and all other manufacturers withdraw their plastics waste from the environment “as we need fishes in our rivers not their plastics.”

NIHSA confirms closure of Lagdo Dam, cautions on possible floods

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has officially verified the decision made by Cameroonian authorities to halt the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, NIHSA Director General, Mr. Clement Nze, emphasized that there is no need for alarm or concern regarding potential flooding within the country. Nze acknowledged that instances of flooding in key urban centers and coastal regions are primarily attributed to escalated rainfall and flash floods, a consequence of climate change. He emphasized that serious flooding and its associated destruction and loss of life could be mitigated by the proactive preparedness of relevant authorities, including preventing construction on flood-prone areas. Each year, neighbouring Cameroon discharges water from the Lagdo Dam in northern Cameroon, flowing downstream into Nigeria, a practice that has led to flooding issues in the country. It’s worth noting that during the dam’s construction in the 1980s, both nations agreed to erect a twin dam on the Nigerian side to manage overflow; however, this second dam was never realized. Nze clarified that releasing excess water from the Lagdo Dam constitutes a standard reservoir operation aimed at averting potential dam failure. He highlighted that water releases are critical to maintaining dam stability and reducing flooding risks for nearby communities. Elaborating on the specifics, he shared, “The Lagdo Dam is situated along the Benue River within the Niger Basin. The Cameroonian authorities initiated the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam on August 14, 2023, starting at 10:10 AM. The initial water release rate was 200 cubic meters per second, amounting to approximately 18 million cubic meters of water daily. “As of August 25, 2023, water releases from the reservoir were decreased to 50 cubic meters per second, a standard reservoir operation that poses negligible flood risk downstream. Moreover, on August 28, 2023, at 5:16 PM, the Hydrologist in charge of the Dam informed NIHSA’s Director General that they ceased water spilling by 11:00 AM the same day.” Nze assured that NIHSA will maintain continuous monitoring of water levels in rivers Niger and Benue, with readings currently indicating no impending flood threats. He emphasized that NIHSA is tasked with delivering data for sustainable management of Nigeria’s substantial surface and subterranean water resources through collaboration with key stakeholders. The Director General urged states to support the Federal Government’s initiatives by raising awareness about flood disaster prevention among their populace. He stressed that flood prevention is a collective effort and that the government cannot achieve this goal single-handedly. He further urged states to prioritize thorough drainage system upkeep, construction, and enforcement of building codes to forestall calamities. Nze provided updates on the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa state, designed to serve as a buffer against floods during excessive water release from the Lagdo Dam. He disclosed that the project’s study and design phases are complete, and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is coordinating with consultants to proceed with procurement. Regarding the dredging of rivers Niger and Benue to curtail severe flooding, Nze acknowledged the substantial cost and the requirement for desilting. If executed effectively, this endeavor has the potential to replenish groundwater across numerous areas. It’s noteworthy that 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) fall within the Highly Probable Flood Risk Areas. These include Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.