The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has called upon all 36 States, the Federal Capital Territory, and 774 Local Government Areas across Nigeria and the citizens to take immediate action in combating escalating flood incidents exacerbated by recent heavy rainfall.
Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasized this during today’s press briefing at the Ministry’s conference room in Abuja.
He advised the general public, States and Local governments to take preventive actions against recurring flooding, including, educating citizens to heed flood warnings from government agencies and abandon traditional beliefs hindering flood prevention, clearing blocked drainage systems and canals at all levels, including local communities, relocating residents and economic activities from flood-prone areas and considering river channelization.
Prof. Utsev further recommended desilting river channels, constructing buffer basins, managing runoff, fortifying settlements with flood barriers, ensuring efficient dam operations and maintaining water infrastructure, and constructing dykes, flood-walls, and water retaining structures.
He reiterated the significance of the April 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), providing crucial information, alerts, and forecasts aligned with historical patterns and urged readiness and adherence to prevention advisories for public safety.
The Minister highlighted high flood risk states as Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.
He detailed the AFO’s comprehensive analysis segmented into three scenarios including Scenario I (April to June): 72 LGAs at high risk and 63 at moderate risk; Scenario II (July to September): 135 LGAs at high risk and 221 at moderate risk and Scenario III (October to November): 44 LGAs at high risk and 100 at moderate risk.
The Minister emphasized that analyzing these scenarios would pinpoint flood risks, enabling targeted resource allocation and planning for enhanced preparedness and effective mitigation measures.
Speaking on the 2023 Presidential Committee Report on flooding, the Minister of State for Water Resources, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Goronyo said, the report has been approved by the National Economic Council (NEC), and is set for strategic implementation.
On his part, the Director-General, NIHSA, Engr. Clement Nze recalled the flood alerts issued in the month of April on the impending flood, adding that the states were adequately notified, stakeholders meetings were convened, and measures were reeled out for them to follow. He maintained that the Agency’s responsibility was that of forecasting and advisory.
Key attendees at the briefing included Prof. Emmanuel Adanu, Director-General of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) in Kaduna, along with senior officials from the Ministry: Mr. Mukaila Babarinde, Director of Hydrology; Engr. Ali Dallah, FNSE, Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations; Engr. Mrs. Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi, FNSE, Director of Irrigation and Drainage; Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation and Mr. Olu Daniel, Director IV, Department of Water Control and Sanitation
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