Odita Sunday 
Flood Threat: GOMEP Sounds Alarm, Urges Nigerians to Keep Drainage Channels Clear
…..” The media guild warns that indiscriminate refuse disposal is turning public drainage systems into potential flood traps, calls for collective action to protect lives and property.”
Abuja – The Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG) has raised the alarm over the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in public drainage channels, warning that the practice poses a serious threat to our communities and increases the risk of flooding.
In a joint communique signed by its Nat’l President, Comr. Akpovoke Otiti, and it’s Nat’l Secretary, Prince Clinton Uba, the organisation called on residents to desist from using public drains as dumping grounds, stressing that environmental safety requires discipline, civic responsibility and collective action.
The warning was announced by the organisation’s Publicity Secretary, Comr. Eluwa Tochukwu.
The GOMEP-NG leadership observed that blocked drainage channels impede the free flow of rainwater, creating conditions that can lead to flooding, destruction of property, displacement of residents and disruption of economic activities.
Otiti, in a strong message to Nigerians, declared:
“We must, by every possible means, put an end to the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in our public drainage systems.
We cannot continue to block the same channels through which rainwater is expected to flow and then act surprised when our streets and homes are submerged. Preventing avoidable flooding begins with individual responsibility. Every resident must understand that keeping our drains clear is not merely a sanitation duty; it is a commitment to protecting human lives, property and the future of our communities.”
The guild stressed that the responsibility for preventing flooding should not rest solely on government, insisting that residents must also play their part by disposing of waste appropriately and keeping their surroundings clean.
It urged Federal, state and local government authorities, environmental agencies and relevant sanitation departments to strengthen public enlightenment, enforce existing environmental regulations and ensure the regular clearing of blocked drainage channels.
The organisation further called on community leaders, market associations, landlords, traders and youth groups to mobilise residents against practices that undermine environmental safety.
According to GOMEP-NG, the consequences of indiscriminate waste disposal extend beyond individual households, affecting entire neighbourhoods and placing additional pressure on emergency services and public infrastructure.
The guild maintained that a change in public attitude was essential to achieving safer and cleaner communities, warning that the cost of negligence could be far greater than the effort required to dispose of refuse properly.
It urged Nigerians to treat environmental sanitation as a shared civic obligation, emphasising that “the fight against flooding must begin before the waters rise, not after lives and property have been lost.”
GOMEP-NG reaffirmed its commitment to using the Online media to promote public awareness, responsible citizenship and environmental protection, while calling on all Nigerians to support practical measures that would reduce the risk of avoidable flooding across the country.
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