Water levels rising, steer clear of flood-risk areas, NIHSA warns

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the body responsible for monitoring all the major rivers in Nigeria, has raised alarm that water levels in both rivers Niger and Benue are on the rise, which may lead to heavy flood in some parts of the country.
The agency, in a statement by its Director-General, Moses O. Beckley, noted that as at August 8, the water level at the confluence in Lokoja, Kogi State, had reached 7.74m which had exceeded the 7.72m recorded value on August 8, 2012.
The statement said the value was a signal to dwellers within the flood plains to relocate immediately to safer and higher grounds, adding that at Onitsha, the water level had risen to an alarming height of 9.1m and called on residents along the Habour Bridge head and industrial activities within the Habour Industrial Layout, Onitsha to take necessary measures.
It attributed the increase to the rise of the level of River Niger in Niamey, Niger Republic, warning that there was tendency to experience river flooding in some parts of the country.
“The localized urban flooding incidents being experienced in some parts of the country are expected to continue due to heavy rainfall, blockage of drainage systems and poor urban planning as well as coastal flooding resulting from sea rise and storm surges,’’ the statement read in part.
The agency noted that the country is approaching the peak of the rainy season and called on all communities around the river banks to evacuate the flood-risk areas.