*500,000 Nigerians displaced in 7 months
By Augustine Aminu
Negligence by states despite early warnings from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NEMA and other relevant authorities, have led to over 500,000 persons across 22 States affected by flood in the last 7 months.
73,379 persons have been displaced, and injured 277 and 115 persons killed across 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory since January this year till date.
Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement, recently said the floods and heavy rain had also left about 37, 633 houses destroyed or severely damaged.
Experts said states despite the early warnings refused to evacuate citizens from low lands.
Garba Shehu quoted President Muhammadu Buhari as reiterating that these tragic events have brought to fore the need for States and local governments to step up their level of preparedness in handling emergencies, which remains a shared responsibility with the Government at the Centre.
The President urged inhabitants of flood-prone areas to always adhere to the early warning advisories as issued by the organisations saddled with climate monitoring and disaster management.
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NiMet had in its warning in August urged “States and National Emergency Agencies” to “intensify adaptation, mitigation and response mechanisms”.
Prof. Mansur Matazu, Director-General/CEO of the agency while issuing its forecast for August-September-October, ASO Season 2022 to newsmen said, “States that are expected to experience varying degrees of flood episodes are advised to begin their awareness campaigns through field extension workers for possible response activities especially at the high risk areas.”
Since January this year flooding has been reported in Lagos, Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Ebonyi, Anambra, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Imo, Abia States and the Federal Capital Territory.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet), has again, in its latest weather forecast, predicted four days of heavy rainfall in five northern states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The States to be affected by the downpour include parts of Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Plateau, Nasarawa, and the FCT.
NiMet in its latest weather report disclosed that moderate to heavy rainfall is also expected in states like Kwara, Oyo, Kogi, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Rivers, Edo and Delta.
According to the report, low to moderate rainfall is expected in parts of the country within the period under review.
“While lite or no rains are expected in very few states. As a result of the heavy rains expected over parts of central cities and the moderate rainfall expected over the southeastern part of the country for two consecutive days, there are chances of flash floods on roads, low-lying settlements and river channels.
“Also, the moderate and heavy rainfall events are expected to be accompanied by strong winds especially over the northern and central states during the forecast period.
“Hence, the public is advised to avoid low-lying terrains, not to drive through running water, clear waterways of debris, avoid standing under trees and unsecured structures during the rain, and switch off electrical appliances before the rains,” it added.
