NIHSA issues alerts to states and LGs of impending flood
The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has directed states and local government councils across the federation to step up and intensify their efforts to avert flood-related disasters in their areas as the country is currently at the peak of flood season.
Clement Nze, the chief executive of NIHSA, in a statement released Friday, maintains that the flooding situation persists as the Niger and Benue rivers have continued to accumulate.
The Hydrological Agency has reminded Nigerians that the country is at the lowest point of the Niger River Basin, which means that once the upper catchment of the basin is flooded, Nigeria must be prepared to experience flooding.
He added that “as of Friday, September 16, 2022, the flow of the Niger River at Niamey, Republic of Niger, upstream of Nigeria, is within normal limits.”
On the Benue River Basin, however, the NIHSA said the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam, which began on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, will be an ongoing process until the inflow to the Lagdo reservoirs is decreasing.
According to the agency, water discharges from the Lagdo Dam have contributed to the increased volume of flow in the Benue River and its tributaries; such as the Faro River and the Mayo Belwa, which in turn contributed to recent flooding in parts of Wuroboki, Yola, Jimeta, Numan and Madagali in Adamawa State
"Therefore, NIHSA would like to advise state governors, the general public, and stakeholders that the situation in the country's inland reservoirs (Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro) and Lagdo Dam present a likelihood of flooding. of the river by the end of October; therefore, the need to put in place adequate measures and enhanced preparedness to mitigate any possible flooding, in particular, in all states and communities that lie on the main course of the Niger Rivers and Benue, namely: kebbi, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa,” he appealed.
The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has directed states and local government councils across the federation to step up and intensify their efforts to avert flood-related disasters in their areas as the country is currently at the peak of flood season.
Clement Nze, the chief executive of NIHSA, in a statement released Friday, maintains that the flooding situation persists as the Niger and Benue rivers have continued to accumulate.
The Hydrological Agency has reminded Nigerians that the country is at the lowest point of the Niger River Basin, which means that once the upper catchment of the basin is flooded, Nigeria must be prepared to experience flooding.
He added that “as of Friday, September 16, 2022, the flow of the Niger River at Niamey, Republic of Niger, upstream of Nigeria, is within normal limits.”
On the Benue River Basin, however, the NIHSA said the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam, which began on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, will be an ongoing process until the inflow to the Lagdo reservoirs is decreasing.
According to the agency, water discharges from the Lagdo Dam have contributed to the increased volume of flow in the Benue River and its tributaries; such as the Faro River and the Mayo Belwa, which in turn contributed to recent flooding in parts of Wuroboki, Yola, Jimeta, Numan and Madagali in Adamawa State
"Therefore, NIHSA would like to advise state governors, the general public, and stakeholders that the situation in the country's inland reservoirs (Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro) and Lagdo Dam present a likelihood of flooding. of the river by the end of October; therefore, the need to put in place adequate measures and enhanced preparedness to mitigate any possible flooding, in particular, in all states and communities that lie on the main course of the Niger Rivers and Benue, namely: kebbi, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa,” he appealed.
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