The Federal Government has issued a warning that severe river flooding is expected to commence by the end of July, which will affect 18 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev announced this while speaking to journalists about the country’s flood situation on Thursday, 4th July, 2024.
He noted that the current floods experienced since May have primarily been flash or urban floods caused by heavy and prolonged rainfall, compounded by inadequate drainage systems in urban areas.
The Minister cautioned that from late July onwards, river flooding is anticipated to intensify, posing potentially severe consequences.
He highlighted the following states as particularly at risk: Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba, and FCT.
Explaining the vulnerability, Professor Utsev emphasized that Nigeria is situated in the downstream area of the River Niger Basin.
Therefore, when upstream sections of the basin experience flooding, Nigeria is likely to face significant flood events.
Regarding the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, the Minister reassured that operators have informed Nigeria about the current filling of the dam for hydropower generation.
He assured the public that the flow conditions at Wuroboki are presently normal, allaying fears of immediate concerns over the dam’s impact on downstream areas.
