The National Emergency Management Agency has warned states and local governments of impending flooding to be caused by above average rainfall in the year.
This is as it launched the 2023 climate change preparedness and mitigation strategies to safeguard lives, livelihood, property and the environment against hazards related to climate variability in the country.
The Director General of the Agency, Mustapha Ahmed alongside disaster partners, unveiled the document in Abuja, recently.
According to the Director General NEMA, the document is to highlight the predictions of the year as contained in the Seasonal Climate Prediction as well as provide early warning messages for public sensitisation.
“The prediction also indicated rainfall amounts range to be average weight and above average. The exception to these is parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna and Federal Capital Territory that are likely to observe below average. Furthermore, the states that are expected to record rainfall amounts of 270mm and above are Bayelsa, Akwa- Ibom, Delta and Cross River.” Ahmad said.
“Similarly, the 2023 AFO has revealed that a total of 66 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are at high flood risk from April to June; 148 LGAs from July to September and 100 LGAs in October and November. In addition, a total of 41 LGAs fall within the moderate flood risk areas in April to June; 199 LGAs in July to September and 72 LGAs in October and November. This year’s forecast has indicated that there is a high risk of coastal flooding due to the expected rise in sea level and tidal surge that may negatively impact agriculture, human settlements and transportation in Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos and Rivers States.
“It is in line with this that we are here today to formally present to the public the 2023 Climate-related Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies. The objective is to highlight the predictions of the year as contained in SCP and AFO including associated risks with recommendations of actions required to mitigate against identified hazards and provide appropriate early warning messages for public sensitization.
“In NEMA, we believe that early warning must be matched with early action. Therefore, we have written letters and attached this document for dispatch to all the 36 State Governments and the FCT Administration with specific mention of LGAs at risk and actions that are expected to be taken by responsible authorities. We have also produced flood risk maps of areas at risk and uploaded them on our official website and social media platforms for greater access by the public. NEMA has also commenced public sensitization through the placement of flood early warning jingles, special discussions and advocacy across the states.”
The Director, Planning, Research and Forecasting, at NEMA, Fatima Kashim said the document was one of the flagship resources for the management of climate-related disasters covering important sectors that include Agriculture, Transportation, Health, Power Generation and Distribution, Telecommunication and Water resources.
“Following the recent experience of the flood that devastated many communities across the country, NEMA has adopted a new approach in the timely production of strategies for timely response to the predictions for this year to prepare ahead and efficiently mitigate against the likelihood of floods.
”This year, we intend to handle programs aimed at enlightening and educating the public differently believing that it will yield better disaster risk reduction. This year, we shall synergise better with our esteemed stakeholders to save lives and property. Our target this year is to ensure that emergencies across the country are handled in line with International best practices,” she said.
The Director General of National Meteorological Agency, NiMET, Professor Muazu Matazu said Nigeria has been involved in Early Warnings for All Nigerians for a long time and strives for improvement each year.
“For this year, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has released its Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) for 2023 as early as the 24th of January 2023, highlighting vital Weather and Climate information that may affect socio-economic activities in the following Sectors during the year: air, land, and water transportation; agriculture, water resources, disaster Management and mitigation, health, tourism, sports, power & energy etc.
“Forecast information provided in the document includes the on-set and cessation dates of the 2023 rainy season; length of the cropping season; the total amount of rainfall expected in all the 774 Local Government Areas of the Country; temperature forecast, (January to April) as well as Malaria and Meningitis vigilance forecast. The socio-economic implications of the predictions were also presented in the publication.
“According to a UNICEF report in 20272, more than 2.5 million people in Nigeria needed humanitarian assistance, of which 60 per cent were children — who were also at increased risk of water-borne diseases, drowning and malnutrition due to the most severe flooding witnessed by Nigeria in the past decade.
Professor Matazu said that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency will continue to monitor and provide in-season updates on the predictions while calling on Stakeholders for synergy and collaboration in disseminating the Early Warning Information to All Nigerians.