Just In: FG Alerts Nigerians Of Impending Flood In Osun, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Ebonyi, Other States

The Federal Government yesterday alerted Nigerians of imminent flood in 31 states in the country.

The Hon. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, issued the alert at the College of Physicians, Gaduwa at the presentation of the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) organised by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency NIHSA.

According to the Minister, the flood which will be experienced from April to November in 31 states of the federation will affect 148 local governments in the country.

He named the states to experience flood as Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo and Imo State .

Other States according to Professor Utsev include: Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano , Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau,Rivers Sokoto Taraba and Yobe State.

Providing details to what will happen, the Minister said the level of floods in this category is expected to be high in terms of impact on population, agriculture, livelihoods, livestock infrastructure and environment.

The Water Resources and Sanitation Minister also announced that flash and urban flooding will be experienced in city centres across the country including Abakaliki, Abeokuta, Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin-Kebbi , Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi,Nguru, Onitsha,Oshogbo, Portharcurt, Sokoto,Warri and Yola town.

Prof. Utsev said while the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not relenting on its oars to address perennial flooding in the country with the inauguration of National Economic Council Ad-hoc Committee on Flood Mitigation, Adaptation, Preparedness and Response to proactively develop a road map to enhance the country’s mitigation and respond capabilities, citizens must take flood forecasting and early warnings serious and act accordingly to mitigate its devastating impact on livelihoods.

He called on State Governors to fully mobile their people to open up drainage channels and canals around their environments and pull down all structures built on water ways to allow free flow of water and sensitize their citizens on the dangers of dumping refuse on water ways.

Minister of State for
Water Resources and Sanitation, Barr. Bello Goronyo who spoke at the occasion emphasized the need to sensitize farmers, stakeholders and the public on the need to embark on mitigation measures to improve on safety and reduce potential damages to lives and property from flooding while Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Alh Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi called for de-silting of major rivers in the country and the need to increase water harvesting technology to store more water for dry season farming.

Director General Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) Engr. Clement Nze said over $6 billion dollars were lost in the 2022 flooding with lives and advised Nigerians to take the early warnings serious and act fast.

A statement by Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Terhemen Oraduen said the event with the theme ” Promoting the use of Data Analytics and Modelling for Flood Risk Assessment and Food Security” featured presentation of Two thousand and twenty four annual flood outlook book to the public.