Flood Warning for 14 States in Nigeria

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has raised an alert. They warn that 14 states might face medium flood risks from July 14 to July 20.

Mr Umar Mohammed, the Director-General of NIHSA, shared this news on Wednesday. The warning comes from the agency’s latest hydrological forecast. This forecast sees local flooding along major rivers and marks 16 monitoring spots as high-risk areas.

The states at risk include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, and Plateau.

NIHSA mentioned that many local government areas and communities could face problems. Places like schools, health facilities, and markets may be affected if people do not take precautions.

Mohammed explained that the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) gives predictions and insights about possible flood situations during the rainy season. This forecast helps in disaster planning and risk reduction for governments and agencies.

He urged state governments, emergency agencies, and communities to improve early warning systems. They should also work on evacuation plans and raise public awareness about the floods.

Some key locations on the flood path include Saminaka on the Karam River, the Waya Dam site on the Waya River, and Amber on the Amber River. These places are critical according to the forecast.

Mohammed advised people living in flood-prone areas to move to safer places. They should clear drainage channels, avoid flooded roads, and keep up with NIHSA’s flood updates.

He also called on emergency management agencies to have relief materials ready and to start community-based early warning systems. This will help reduce the impact of any flooding that happens.