233 LGAs in 32 states risk flood – NIHSA

The Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Clement Nze, an engineer, has said that the highlights of the 2022 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) shows that 233 local government areas in 32 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the country fall within the highly probable flood risk areas.

 Speaking Saturday in Abuja at the public presentation of the Disaster Risk Management Implications of the 2022 flood predictions by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), he mentioned Adamawa, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti Edo as part of the highly probable flood risk areas.

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Also among the highly probable flood risk areas include Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Gombe, Zamafara and the FCT.

He said 212 local government areas in 35 states of the country, including the FCT, fell within the moderately probable flood risk areas.

He noted that the remaining 329 local government areas fell within the probable flood risk areas.

Nze stressed that in terms of the severity of the flood events, the highly probable flood risk were expected in parts of 57 local government areas in the country in April, May and June, while parts of 220 local government areas in July, August and September.

He said 38 local government areas fell within October and November. 

He noted that the flood incident at the period mentioned would have significant impact on population, agriculture, livelihood, livestock, infrastructure and environment.

“Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo are expected to experience coastal flooding due to rise in sea level and tidal surge, which would impact on fishing, coastal and wildlife habitation and river navigation,” he said.

Nze stressed that all planners, decision and policy makers, farmers, stakeholders and the general public should embark on preventive measures to improve on safety and reduce potential damages of lives and property.

On his part, the director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, said it was imperative for individuals and state government to take responsibilities in contributing to disaster management issues rather than abandon every responsibility to the federal government.