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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev has warned that 148 Local Government Areas ( LGAs) in 31 states fell among highly probable flood risk areas for 2024.
Meanwhile 249 LGAs in 36 states including FCT fall within the moderate flood risk states
The Minister stated this at the unveiling of the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook presented by the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency, in Abuja,on Tuesday.
According to him, the high risk states include Adamawa,Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Venue, 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 and Yobe.
Prof Utsev added that Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo are expected to experience coastal flooding due to rise in sea levels while flash and urban flooding will be experienced in urban cities across the country.
He stressed that the AFO publication deserves urgency as he has notified State Governors on level of flooding to expected in their areas.
“I, therefore appeal to state governors and stakeholders to give the information in AFO the attention it requires and act swiftly to contain effects of any flooding incidence so as to forestall any chaotic situation” he added.
In his welcome address, Minister of state Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo who commended the agency for its meaningful efforts in sensitising stakeholders and Nigerians generally on the need to engage mitigation and more preparedness flooding urged the agency to diversify in subsequent publication by including preparation for draught.
Also speaking,the Chairman House Committee on Hydrological Development and N-HYPPADEC, Pascal Agbodike pledged the National Assembly support to ensure prevention of flood disaster commended the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, for putting out the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook, AFO, report ahead of the expected floods following the devastating impacts on Nigerians
On his part the Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, Clement Nze stated that the effects of flooding would only decline if there is proper understanding of flood risk through sensitisation.
Similarly ,the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar lamented on the effects on flooding, called for adequate prepared measures so as to mitigate the impact across the Country.
“Flooding has become a perennial incident in Nigeria with attendant impacts such as loss of lives, injuries, destruction of properties, displacement and loss of livelihood among others” she added.
She therefore congratulated the DG and Management of NIHSA for the timely release of this year’s AFO. It is my belief that it will be utilized by all relevant stakeholders to address the challenges of flooding in 2024.
