Expect more river flooding, FG warns states, LGs

The Federal Government has warned states and local government areas to brace up for increased river flooding as the country enters the peak of the rainy season.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, who handed down the warning at a news conference, yesterday, in Abuja, said precautionary measures should be taken to avert possible disasters from such occurrences.

Utsev said states had been alerted following recent reports highlighted in the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook as unveiled by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

He said state governors had been provided with detailed forecasts and preventative measures specific to their regions.

According to him, significant flood risks have been identified in 148 local government areas across 31 states, including Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom and Anambra.

The outlook, divided into three scenarios, indicated heightened flood risks from April to November, with the most severe flooding expected between July and September.

“Over 10 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have already experienced varying levels of flooding since April, resulting in casualties and property damage.

“Notable incidents include the flooding in Trademore Estate, FCT, which led to two deaths and significant property loss,” he said.

Utsev noted the need for states and local government areas to intensify flood prevention measures, such as clearing blocked drainage systems, relocating residents from flood-prone areas and constructing flood barriers.

He said river flooding was expected from major rivers like Niger and Benue, urging continuous monitoring and proactive measures.

The minister said increased rainfall could exacerbate the ongoing cholera outbreak, which had caused 63 deaths and 2,102 suspected cases.

He said a presidential committee had been constituted to address cholera and other waterborne diseases linked to flooding.

Utsev said a realigned 2023 flood report had led to the formation of a new committee, chaired by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to address broader disaster management issues, including erosion and desertification.

He said the committee had submitted its report which had been approved by the National Economic Council, with implementation strategies set to commence shortly.

He added that the Clean Nigeria Use the Toilet campaign and the activation of national laboratories were part of comprehensive measures to enhance public health and sanitation.

NIHSA Director General, Clement Nze, underscored the Federal Government’s advisory role, noting that enforcement and local action fell under states’ jurisdiction.

He said the Federal Government would continue its efforts to construct buffer dams, alongside the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, to mitigate flood risks.

NIHSA’s 2024 Annual Flood Outlook reveals that 148 local government areas across 31 states are at high risk of flooding.

The affected states include Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi.

Others are Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party in Lagos State has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to deploy the state resources to address flooding in the state.

Publicity Secretary of the party, Olubunmi Odesanya, made the call in a statement in Lagos, yesterday.

The call followed the floods that hit most parts of the state on Wednesday, after a downpour.

Odesanya said the state government had not done enough to address flooding, urging Sanwo-Olu to do more to tackle the perennial environmental problem.

“The downpour of Wednesday in Lagos has finally exposed the derelict condition of the state and its neglect by the government.

“From Yaba to Oshodi, Oshodi to Ketu, all of Ikorodu Road, Iyana Oworo, Iyana Iba, Ibeju-Lekki, Gbagada, Lekki and, in fact, all the 20 local government areas in the state, everywhere was flooded.

“Many Lagos residents could not leave their homes due to the floods. Combining extreme poverty to high flooding is a double tragedy. We strongly believe the state revenues are enough to tackle this menace,” the LP spokesperson said.

According to her, the government should, as a matter of urgency, come up with a permanent solution to the problem.

Odesanya recalled that several properties were demolished in some areas by the state government on the excuse that the properties were built on drainage channels, causing flooding.

She said the government had said after the demolitions that the state would no longer witness any flooding, going forward.

Odesanya said Wednesday’s floods meant nothing much had been done to address the problem.

Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, while giving an update about the floods, apologised to residents and commuters.

Wahab, who noted that the floods were not due to the government’s lack of planning, said: “It was nature taking its full course. Several cars and houses were submerged with many commuters and workers stranded in many parts of the state as a result of the floods.

“Also there was gridlock on major roads, affecting economic activities in the state for several hours.”