Government must take a look at buildings that have been covered with water for months by ensuring that people who want to return to their houses are able to do so without resulting in more casualties.
Guests and Participants on the TVC News Programme Journalists Hangout gave this advise on Sunday.
Babajide Kolade Otitoju who was lead discussant on the Programme said having lost so many people to the flood, Government at all levels must go to the houses and structures that were submerged under water for weeks and be sure of their integrity before allowing people to return.
He added that buildings in the parts of the Country that were affected by flooding have lost a lot of value both for the Owners and any prospective investor.
For his part Adewale Adeoye while agreeing with the submission of Babajide Kolade Otitoju said the period between now and the start of the raining season in 2023 presents a window of opportunity for all affected government to come together at a summit whether National or regional to agree on some immediate mitigating measures to prevent a recurrence of the horrendous loss of lives that accompanied the flood.
He said having lost over 600 lives to the flood, Nigeria especially must do something fast to prevent another such incident in 2023.
He added that the thinking should be for the immediate, short term, medium term and Long term so that the nation and Others across the sub region are prepared and prevent further future occurrences.
He disclosed that he has not seen reasons to believe that the Federal Government or Countries in the Sub Region are doing anything to ensure it does not happen again even at the sub-national level.
He said States should also come up with short, medium and long term solutions and that focus should not just be on the Federal Government.
Babjide Kolade Otitoju while sharing his personal experience of visiting parts of Bayelsa State said it was a chastening experience that must not be repeated.
He added that proper remedial measures have to be put in place to protect areas who were devastated by the Flood.
He also called for more to be done as the prediction for 2023 is that things will be tough for Nigerians especially in terms of food inflation.
