Floods: Inadequate drainage systems more to blame than climate change —Expert

Climate change which produces irregular weather patterns is often blamed for floods when they occur. However, an expert in Atmospheric and Space Weather Physics, Dr Rabia SalihuSa’id says the recent floods witnessed in Nigeria are more of a result of poor drainage systems than they are of climate change.

Dr Sa’id, who is of the Department of Physics, Bayero University in Kano, explains her position.

She told Nigerian Tribune that, “For the earth system and climate to work, there is a need for balance. Extreme low precipitation leads to drought and extreme high precipitation leads to flooding.

“How is this linked to climate change? Global warming, which is the increase in global average temperatures over a long period results in climate change, which is a change in the pattern expected of the climate of different locations. High temperatures cause more moisture in the atmosphere and leads to more rains.

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“In Nigeria, much as we are influenced by the global pattern of climate change, the floods have other causes.

“Yes, climate change may cause more rainfall and extreme storm, but the inadequacies of drainage systems in Nigeria are more responsible for the flooding than the climate change/global warming conundrum.”

The winner of the 2015 Elsevier Foundation Award in Physical and Mathematical Sciences pointed out that, “Building on designated drainage paths, irresponsible dumping of refuse in drainage systems and a general lack of respect for environmental regulations aggravate the flooding patterns in Nigeria.”