The Federal Government has warned States and the general public to step up efforts in preventing flooding as eighteen states including the Federal Capital Territory,( FCT), will experience flooding this month.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev gave this warning at a news conference in Abuja.
Professor Utsev insisted that there is no release of water from the dams, adding that most of the flood currently recorded were flash floods, which he attributed to high rainfall and poor drainage system in the areas.
“At this point, it is important to state that River Flooding is expected beginning from this month (July 2024), the States that are likely to be impacted within this as predicted are: Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Adamawa, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba and the FCT” Professor Utsev stated.
The Minister added that the flow situation within the catchment areas is currently within normal as the rising water levels at the various monitoring stations in Niamey are still within the acceptable level.
“The flow situation at Jiderebode in Kebbi State, upstream of Kainji and Jebba reservoirs which is the first monitoring station on the River Niger in Nigeria is still at normal situation; same applies to the flow at Lokoja, Kogi state (the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue)” he added.
“We are also monitoring the development on the River Benue Sub-Basin. Here, Wuroboki in Adamawa State is our first monitoring station where the flow from the upstream Cameroun is received”.
The Minister stated that the Lagdo Dam operators have informed Nigeria that they are currently filling the dam for hydropower generation.
“The flow situation at Wuroboki is relatively normal at this time, so there is no cause for alarm in terms of water releases on the Benue River basin. However, we will keep monitoring the development on this flank and put close tab on other monitoring stations as we are approaching the critical months”.
Prof Utsev therefore, appealed to states affected on the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA)’s 2024 AFO prediction to be serious as it has been following the predicted pattern.
Earlier, speaking on why state governments are not sanctioned over the years following early warning the Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, Clement Nze stressed that the Agency is saddled with the responsibility to advise state governments and Nigerians on preparations and mitigation but has no power to prosecute.
On River flooding, Nze explained that the federal government initiated plans to construct Hausa dam in Adamawa State to curtail water coming from Cameroon.
In April this year, the Federal government presented to the general public this Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which indicated that 148 LGAs in 31 states fall within the High Flood Risk areas while 249 LGAs fall within the Moderate Flood Risk Areas with the remaining 377 LGAs falling within the Low Flood Risk Areas.
By Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji
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