TheCable

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) says 28 states and the FCT which were earlier predicted to be flood-prone are likely to experience more devastating floods from the end of August to early October.

Clement Nze, the director-general of the agency while interacting with journalists in Abuja, said the floods will get worse in some states and the federal capital territory (FCT) within that period.

In its 2021 flood outlook, the NIHSA had predicted that 28 states, including the FCT, would most likely experience flooding this year.

TheCable had earlier reported how unprepared Nigeria was to face the floods after the prediction was put out by NIHSA.

This year, different states including Lagos, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Katsina, and Benue have so far had varying degrees of floods which have led to loss of lives, businesses, and property.

Nze said all the areas earlier identified as flood-prone this year as well as those along the rivers Niger and Benue may likely begin to experience more devastating flooding from the end of August.

He said from earlier predictions, Lagos, Nasarawa, Anambra, Abia, Kwara, Kaduna, Rivers, Enugu, Borno, and Ondo states had witnessed severe flooding as a result of heavy local rainfalls compounded by poor drainage system.

“Nigeria is located within the River Niger Basin which is occupied by nine countries namely Benin, Burkina- Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria,” Nze said.

“Nigeria is located at the lowest position of the River Niger Basin and this means that once the upper catchment of the Basin gets flooded, Nigeria should be prepared to experience flooding. The period of flooding in these upstream countries in August and September of every year.’’

The DG said his agency is monitoring the development and will also continue to monitor Cameroonian authorities with regard to flood scenarios in the upper catchment of the sub-basin.

He warned Lagosians against the practice of dredging and sand filling the Atlantic ocean to build model cities like those in Lekki and Banana Island because this may pose serious threats in the future.