Ogun, 31 Other States Asked To Brace For Heavy Flooding, As Rainy Season Kicks Off
Ogun and 31 other states have been alerted that they stand at risk of heavy flooding this year.
The flood, according to the 2024 annual flooding outlook of Nigeria Hydrological Service, will affect 148 local government areas.
Water Resources Minister, Professor Joseph Utsev, presenting the report in Abuja on Tuesday, listed other states prone to the predicted floods, as Adamawa, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Anambra and Bauchi.
Others are Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ebonyi, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Plateau States.
Also to experience the heavy flood are Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe states.
The minister projected the time frame for the heavy flood from this month to November.
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Umar commended the AFO as a crucial tool for informed decision-making and action to enhance the nation’s preparedness for floods, noting the longstanding partnership between NEMA and NIHSA in flood risk management.
She said that NEMA relied on the AFO to develop its annual Climate Related Hazard preparedness and response strategy, which served as an early warning message for Nigeria.
On his part, Clement Nze, NIHSA Director-General, harped on the need to promote a better understanding of flood risks and implementing appropriate mitigation measures to address the challenges of flooding in Nigeria.
He stressed the essential role of encouraging collaboration among disaster risk managers, earth observers, mission makers, and other stakeholders to enhance preparedness and flood control measures.
Nze said the collaborative efforts were critical to effectively managing flood risks and minimising the impact of flooding on communities and infrastructure across the country.
