Nigerian government predicts severe flooding in 94 towns across 22 States
Residents wade through flood water following a massive flood in Obagi community, Rivers state, Nigeria October 22, 2022. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The Federal Government of Nigeria has warned that 94 towns cutting across 22 states are in danger of experiencing flooding that is expected to last from July 16th to 20th.
This was declared by the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako.
He explained that heavy rainfall is expected in the specified locations and surrounding areas, which may result in flooding during the predicted period.
Some of the concerned states are Adamawa State (Gbajili, Ganye); Abia State (Eziama, Arochukwu); Anambra State (Onitsha); Akwa Ibom (Uyo, Upenekang, Oron, Edor, Eket, Obianga, Etinan); Bauchi State (Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi); Bayelsa State (Letugbene); Borno State (Maiduguri); Cross River State (Ikom, Calabar, Itigidi, Akpap); Nasarawa State (Udeni, Tunga); and the Federal Capital Territory (Abaji, Bwari).
Other are Jigawa State (Miga, Ringim, Dutse, Hadejia); Kano State (Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Wudil, Sumaila); Kebbi State (Gwandu, Jega, Kangiwa, Gauri-Banza, Ribah, Sakaba, Saminaka, Kamba, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Argungu, Bagudo); Katsina State (Bindawa, Jibia, Kaita, Katsina, Daura, Funtua); Kwara State (Kosubosu); Niger State (Ibi, Bida, Kontagora, Mashegu, Minna, New Bussa, Katcha, Rijau, Wushishi); Plateau State (Jos, Mangu); Rivers State (Port-Harcourt, Onne, Okrika, Bori); Sokoto State (Makira, Goronyo, Isa, Silame, Sokoto, Wamako); Taraba State (Gembu, Beli, Garkowa, Gasol, Serti, Donga, Duchi, Gwarzo, Gun gun Bodel); Yobe State (Gashua, Gasma, Damaturu, Geidam, Kanama); and Zamfara State (Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi, Bukkuyum, Majara, Gummi).
tThe Punch reported that Minister Salako called on stakeholders to take proactive measures to minimize the impact of the predicted flooding.
When asked if the Cameroonian government had informed the ministry about the planned opening of the Lagdo Dam floodgates, he clarified that the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is responsible for managing dams, not his ministry.
Recall that the Nigerian government earlier issued flood alerts while calling on residents to take cover due to potential heavy rainfall in many parts of the country.
In 2022, widespread flooding killed more than 600 people in Nigeria, left around 90,000 homes under water and blocked food and fuel supplies, according to officials.
The ministries for humanitarian affairs and for disaster management said in an online posting that the floods affected 27 out of Nigeria’s 36 states and impacted around 1.4 million people.
The destructive impacts of the rain intensified after water released from the Lagdo dam in neighbouring Cameroon.
