According to the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, the primary causes of Nigeria’s disastrous flood disasters are environmental fraud and a disdain for town planning protocols.

As part of the ongoing week-long events for the 55th national conference and Annual General Meeting of the Institute, which has as its topic “Of Flood And Fraud,” in Enugu, Nathaniel Atebije, President of NITP, made this statement Monday at a media briefing.

To promote growth and development in the nation, Atebije emphasised the pressing need for appropriate planning and mentality shifts.

He clarified that recent floods in Borno State, Maiduguri, and other places serve as a sobering reminder of the negative effects of environmental negligence. The situation is dire, with millions displaced and 34 of 36 states affected.

Atebije underlined that greater compliance monitoring and enforcement of environmental standards may have averted these disasters.

He pointed out that in order to lessen these difficulties, Nigeria need strong environmental regulations and enforcement systems.

Nigeria can lower the risk of flood disasters and guarantee a safer, more prosperous future for its citizens by putting an emphasis on sustainable development and accountability, he added, noting that the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency Act gives states and local governments the authority to create environmental protection agencies and laws.

According to him, “environmental fraud—the unlawful manipulation or misrepresentation of environmental data activities, either for financial gain or to avoid regulatory compliance—is the most devastating in Nigeria today.”

“This includes misreporting emissions levels, hiding pollution, illegally disposing of waste, and falsifying environmental impact assessments.”

He said that despite harming ecosystems and public health, the goal was frequently to get around environmental rules and regulations, cut expenses, or avoid penalties.

The president of the institution further emphasised that these violations of environmental regulations were committed by private citizens, businesses, and even government organisations.

According to Atebije, the main environmental fraud in Nigeria is either a lack of physical planning or poorly controlled urbanisation.

Developers circumvent and violate environmental regulations in several Nigerian communities by engaging in fraudulent activities, ignoring physical planning, and allowing urban development to go unchecked.

According to him, “poorly planned urban expansion is the result of impunity, carelessness, and recklessness in the location of developments.”

He went on to say that unlawful buildings are permitted to be constructed on floodplains and close to riverbanks due to corruption and a failure to follow zoning restrictions.

The head of the institute repeatedly emphasised that the government must take genuine steps to prevent floods in Nigeria using a variety of strategies, such as hiring planners to implement plans and enlisting local experts.

“We stress that the first step in preventing flooding is physical planning and development management.

“To prevent the construction of buildings on floodplains and areas prone to flooding, strict adherence to zoning and building codes should be enforced,” he stated.

He insisted that the nation’s environmental catastrophes might be decreased with careful preparation and strict adherence to established protocols.

“We urge developers and governments to plan before starting any building.

In order to minimise excessive water runoff, the NITP head also emphasised the necessity of moving vulnerable people in flood-prone regions and asked the government to adopt Watershed Management Practices through afforestation and sustainable land use.

He maintained that residents of high-risk flood zones, especially those residing along riverbanks and along the shore, must be relocated.

In addition, Atebije pushed for the government to provide inexpensive housing programs for those relocated from flood-prone areas to safer ones.

Even though the flood is considered a natural catastrophe, he pointed out that environmental fraud undoubtedly contributes to its deteriorating impacts.

However, the NIT helmsman cautioned that illicit environmental exploitation for temporary benefits leads to long-term weaknesses.

People in flood-prone or high-risk flood zones, especially those near rivers and the coast, need to be relocated. For those relocating from flood-prone regions to safer ones, the government should provide cheap housing programs.

“The illegal exploitation of the environment for short-term gains creates long-term vulnerabilities, which is why flooding is considered a natural disaster and environmental fraud undoubtedly contributes to its worsening effects,” he said.