Agency Warns of High Flood Risk in 15 States

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NiHSA, has warned of a high riverine flood risk across 15 states from Sept. 19 to 25, urging communities in vulnerable areas to move to safer and higher ground.

NiHSA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Arch. Umar Mohammed, issued the warning Saturday in the agency’s National Flood Advisory.

Mohammed said rising river levels could cause flooding in several communities, putting schools, health care facilities, markets, farms and religious buildings at risk.

He urged affected state governments to urgently relocate residents in vulnerable communities ahead of the expected flooding.

NiHSA identified Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra and Akwa Ibom among the states facing the risk, alongside Edo, Bayelsa, Enugu, Kogi, Delta, Abia, Taraba, Rivers and Lagos.

In Imo, the affected local government areas include Aboh-Mbaise, Ahiazu-Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Ezinihitte, Ideato North, Ihitte/Uboma and Ikeduru. The agency said 958 communities, 1,022 schools, 553 health care facilities, 161 markets and 198 religious buildings are exposed.

In Cross River, eight local government areas, including Obubra, Ikom and Calabar, are affected. NiHSA said 2,471 communities, 703 schools, 344 health care facilities, 145 markets, 453 religious buildings and 854 hectares of farmland are exposed.

The agency also identified vulnerable communities and facilities in Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra and Akwa Ibom states.

NiHSA advised communities located on floodplains to prepare to move to higher ground and urged state authorities to take precautionary measures ahead of the forecast period.