FG tasks States, LGAs, citizens on flood prevention amid heavy rainfall
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, has called on all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, 774 Local Government Areas, and citizens across Nigeria to take urgent measures against the increasing flood incidents caused by recent heavy rainfall.
Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, emphasized the need for immediate and concerted action to mitigate the impact of recurring floods, during a press briefing on Thursday at the Ministry’s conference room in Abuja.
Prof. Utsev urged the public, states, and local governments to implement preventive measures such as educating citizens to heed flood warnings from government agencies, clearing blocked drainage systems and canals, relocating residents and economic activities from flood-prone areas, and considering river channelization.
He further recommended desilting river channels, constructing buffer basins, managing runoff, fortifying settlements with flood barriers, ensuring efficient dam operations, maintaining water infrastructure, and building dykes and flood-walls.
Highlighting the significance of the April 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Prof. Utsev noted that it provides crucial information, alerts, and forecasts based on historical patterns.
The Minister also identified the high flood-risk states, which include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He detailed the AFO’s comprehensive analysis, which is segmented into three scenarios: Scenario I (April to June) with 72 LGAs at high risk and 63 at moderate risk; Scenario II (July to September) with 135 LGAs at high risk and 221 at moderate risk; and Scenario III (October to November) with 44 LGAs at high risk and 100 at moderate risk.
Prof. Utsev emphasized that analyzing these scenarios would help pinpoint flood risks, enabling targeted resource allocation and planning for enhanced preparedness and effective mitigation measures.
On his part, the Minister of State for Water Resources, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Goronyo, spoke about the 2023 Presidential Committee Report on flooding, which has been approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) and is set for strategic implementation.
Also speaking, NIHSA Director-General, Engr. Clement Nze, recalled the flood alerts issued in April and stated that states were adequately notified, stakeholders meetings were convened, and measures were outlined for them to follow. He emphasized that NIHSA’s role is primarily forecasting and advisory.
Key attendees at the briefing included Prof. Emmanuel Adanu, Director-General of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) in Kaduna, along with senior officials from the Ministry: Mr. Mukaila Babarinde, Director of Hydrology; Engr. Ali Dallah, FNSE, Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations; Engr. Mrs. Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi, FNSE, Director of Irrigation and Drainage; Mrs. Elizabeth Ugoh, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation; and Mr. Olu Daniel, Director IV, Department of Water Control and Sanitation.
