Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) Warns Nigerians To Prepare for More Flood
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have warned Nigerians especially states in the North Central, South East and the South Western States to expect more floods..
The Director-General, NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, and the Director-General, of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr Clement Nze, gave the warning at the opening ceremony of the workshop on Hydro-meteorological status and outlook system (HydroSOS).
Matazu pointed out that with high-intensity rains coupled with the dams being let open, there will be more floods.
Matazu said; “Remember, we issued the forecast in February and we followed up with the monthly updates that we’re going to have above-normal rainfall in most parts of the country. So in terms of the rainfall-induced floods, we’ve seen the peak but remember we told you that this rainwater gets collected into the reservoirs and dams, and whenever they are filled, it gets spilt. So, on the he13th of September, the Lagbo Dam was released. And also Kainji and Shiroro dams were released. So what we’re witnessing now is riverine flooding.
“And from the information, we’re getting from NIHSA we’re going to see more floods. And now the rain is concentrating on the North Central and the southern states. So that will be a combination of short duration, high-intensity rain, and riverine flooding. So we’re going to see more of these floods in the north-central states as we are seeing in Kogi and also southeastern and southwestern states as we are beginning to see in several parts of South West.
“In Africa, water-related hazards such as flood, drought etc has become a major cause of food insecurity, strains on livelihoods, health risks and conflicts in many parts of the continent.”
He noted that the flood that happened was primarily caused by rainfall and not the released dams, which has been heightened by people who built on flood plains, as well as the rise in water levels in the River Niger and Benue.
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