31 states to experience flooding between April, November | read details
Thirty one states are at a high risk of flooding between April and November according to the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
According to the agency, a total of 148 local government areas in Lagos, Kano, Delta, and 28 other states had been categorised as high flood-risk areas.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, on the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook for the country, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev said :
“The 2024 Annual Flood Outlook shows that part of 148 Local Government Areas in 31 states of the federation fall within the high flood-risk areas, while part of 249 LGAs in 36 states of the federation and the FCT fall within the moderate flood-risk areas.
“The high flood-risk states are Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe.”
“The level of floods in this category is expected to be high in terms of impact on the population, agriculture, livelihoods, livestock and infrastructure, and the environment.
“Part of 72 LGAs across the country fall within the high flood-risk areas in April, May, and June; while part of 135 LGAs in July, August, and September; and part of 44 LGAs in October and November 2024 are within the high flood-risk zones,”.
“Moderate impact level floods are expected in parts of 63 LGAs within April, May, and June; and in parts of 221 LGAs within July, August, and September; and parts of 100 LGAs within October and November 2024,”.
“Among these are Abakaliki, Abeokuta, Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin-Kebbi, Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Nguru, Onitsha, Oshogbo, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Warri and Yola,” Utsev stated.
He said Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo would experience coastal flooding due to the rise in sea level and tidal surge, adding that this would impact fishing, wildlife habitation, and river navigation.
“To give the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook publication the urgency it deserves, I have notified all the state governors on the level of flooding to expect in their respective states.
“Letters and AFO publications (with maps) have been dispatched to the governors while the exact LGAs to be affected in each state and the expected level of the flood are detailed accordingly.
“I, therefore, appeal to the state governors to give the information in AFO the attention it requires and to act swiftly to contain effects of any flooding incidence to forestall any chaotic situation,”.
