Flooding continues to threaten lives and livelihoods in rural areas like Makoko, Lagos, highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in rural and underserved communities, Sustainobles founder Michael Oyiga said as the world marks World Rural Development Day.
Observed every 6th of July, the United Nations-designated day promotes action to reduce rural poverty and improve living conditions in rural communities.
The theme of this year's observance is "Rural Empowerment, Global Impact," with a focus on strengthening rural communities as drivers of sustainable development.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent to commemorate the day, Oyiga said flooding during the rainy season remains one of the biggest challenges facing Makoko, where many residents live on water.
"When the water rises, it destroys properties and livelihoods," he said, explaining that fishing activities are disrupted and many families are forced to seek shelter on land or spend nights inside their canoes.
He recalled one particularly tragic incident in which a woman returned after floodwaters receded and discovered that her baby had died during the flooding.
Oyiga said such experiences show why governments must pay greater attention to communities that are often forgotten outside election periods.
Drawing from his experience serving in Makoko during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he said many rural and riverine communities still struggle with poor healthcare, inadequate schools, unsafe drinking water and weak transport links.
Rather than relocating residents from their ancestral homes, he urged authorities to improve existing communities by investing in education, healthcare, flood-resilient housing, transport infrastructure and local markets that support economic growth.
Oyiga also urged Nigerians to support vulnerable people in their communities, saying lasting change begins when individuals choose to improve the life of at least one other person.
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