Inadequate information flow aggravate flooding in Nigeria – Experts

 

Inadequate information and poor access to data-driven insights have been identified as reasons for the ravaging flood in Nigeria.

The founder of Nigeria’s media research and data analytics organisation, Dataphyte, Joshua Olufemi, who disclosed this in a statement made available to DAILY POST, on Thursday, said the devastating flooding situation across the nation had delivered a brutal reminder that no country or region is immune from the climate crisis.

Explaining the critical challenges identified by stakeholders, he noted that the gap in climate change and early warning information flow from government to citizens has sustained conventional practices by citizens which have cost them their lives and livelihoods.

”Also lack of aggregated and on-the-ground data about climate change and resultant issues like agriculture, energy, health, transportation and water.”

Solving these problems, Olufemi said access to data-driven insights, are essential for finding quick flood solutions, building climate-resilient food systems that can meet the growing global food crisis, and reaching a sustainable and resilient net-zero future.

As part of efforts to support journalists and civil society organisations with access to country-specific climate data and policy information, the organisation introduced the first climate data platform in the country.

The new platform is aimed at providing research publications, data, situation reports & analyses, maps and other visualisation to support users with the information needed to understand Nigeria’s climate change.

The platform will, however, present the conversations from the ongoing COP 27 conference in Egypt this month with relevant social media updates and conversations on the 2023 Floodings in Nigeria to promote the development of Nigeria and Africa.