By Yemi Olakitan, Obiabin Onukwugha, Daniel Adaji, Salifu Faridat
The level of flood preparedness in Nigeria is a matter of critical concern, which is exacerbated by the release of water from dams at a rate of 200 cubic meters per second, equivalent to about 18 million cubic meters of water per day.
Authorities are emphasizing the urgent need for concerted efforts to address and mitigate the impending flood impact.
Monitoring data from the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) indicates that the flow level of the River Benue at the Makurdi gauging station has reached 8.97 meters as of August 25, 2023, compared to 8.80 meters on the same date in 2022.
Additionally, the flow level of the River Niger system, particularly at Niamey, Niger Republic, remains stable at a normal level of 4.30 meters.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says 19 states and 56 communities across the country will likely witness heavy rainfall that can lead to flooding in 2023.
NiMET had predicted that 12 states in the Northern Nigeria will experience severe flooding.
They include: Borno, Taraba, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Yobe, Plateau, Nassarawa, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina.
NiMET also predicted extended rainfall in Kwara, Enugu, Anambra, Ogun, and Lagos states.
It also said the northern states of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, would experience the beginning of rain, which will peak between July and September.
How states are preparing;
Taraba State
In response to this imminent threat, stakeholders in the state are urgently calling for the evacuation of Nigerians from vulnerable communities to safer locations.
This proactive measure aims to mitigate the potential disaster posed by the impending flood.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is also pledging to work closely with government partners to provide relief, including food and non-food items, to those affected in IDP camps and host communities.
It’s clear that both authorities and citizens are being urged to remain vigilant and take immediate action to prevent and manage potential flood disasters in Taraba State.
Kaduna State
The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) has been coordinating stakeholders in the state, including the Ministry of Environment, in terms of desilting drainages and water channels in Kaduna State in an efforts to prepare and prevent flooding in the state.
(KADSEMA) has also been sensitizing communities around key areas such as the Unguwan Romi, Kigo road, Bashama road, Karatudu, Rafin Guza and some other areas, on the need to locate residences that are known to be around flood prone areas and relocate them to safer places.
The agency also visits local governments that are likely to be face flooding in line with the predictions of Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
It visited these local governments to arrange higher grounds, where victims can move to in the event that the local governments face flooding.
It also conducted meetings, where all stakeholders are brought together to prepared themselves towards flooding preparedness and preventions.
KADSEMA worked closely with UNICEF, one of it’s donor that graciously provided unconditional cash transfers to 5,000 households.
They were assessed and supported with the sum of N35, 000 each. The funds were distributed to them through SOKU and Nigerian Red Cross.
The fund is supposed to enable them move away from where they are, before the downpour comes or gets serious.
In the past, KADSEMA has. trained Local Emergency Management Committees.
These comprise people who were selected from local governments as enshrined in the National Disaster Management Framework.
With funding from UNICEF, the agency work to review the 2022 Risk Analysis Map for Kaduna state, and also update the Multisectoral Contingency Plan.
These are all efforts that are put together, preparatory to the foreseeable flooding occurrences in the state.
So far, all of the four local governments that were predicted in 2022 that might face flooding have not heard of any such incidents.
Yobe State
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The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) had already given residents in Yobe the go-ahead to relocate to higher land as a flood prevention precaution.
According to the agency’s executive secretary, Mohammed Goje, the recent NiMET prognosis made the relocation unavoidable.
In order to prevent the impending catastrophe, Mr. Goje said the agency has scheduled a 2023 flood preparedness meeting with 13 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and development partners.
“During the discussion, we came to the conclusion that, although community mobilisation and awareness-raising about floods and Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD)/Cholera are ongoing throughout the state, the information sessions need to be scaled up.
“SEMA, the WASH Sector, the Ministries of Health, Information, and NOA to meet bilaterally and hammer out methods of boosting awareness raising sessions throughout the state.
“NiMet, the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NiHSA), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have identified areas of concern and urged action in their dissemination of information about the outlook for the nation and each state.
“Gov. Mai Mala Buni has, since the dissemination of the flood prediction outlook, directed SEMA to intensify action and ensure that prevention and mitigation measures are activated to reduce impact,” the executive secretary stated.
Adamawa State
Following the memo on possible release of water from Lagdo dam Cameroon Republic informing Nigeria government to be on alert, and the possibility of flood from excessive rainfall predicted by Nigeria Metrological Agency, NiMet, a team of officers from the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA Yola Operations Office led by Mr Ladan Ayuba along with representatives from Adamawa state Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency conducted an assessment tour to the Bakin Kogi river in Jimeta.
According to a press release, the aim of the tour was to monitor and assess the water level in preparation for potential flooding in Adamawa State.
The assessment revealed the water level is at 8.0 meters as at 10.00 am on 30th August 2023.
According to the authorities, the Marine Unit of Nigeria Police Force to has been informed of the situation on ground and are to collaborate with and support in responding to flood emergency within the State.
According to the document, the Unit Commander of the Marine assured the state of all necessary support that will be required to facilitate smooth response to any flood emergency that may arise.
Ibrahim Umar, executive director of SEMA in Adamawa said precautions have been taken in local government areas that are prone to flooding in coordination with the local government councils.
Mr. Umar said that extra channels had been built in some of the flood-prone districts, along with the clearance of waste piles to ensure that water could flow freely during the rainy season.
He said that the EPA had also launched an aggressive publicity campaign to discourage the construction of buildings that might obstruct the free flow of water.
He claimed that the administration of Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri has subsequently ordered everyone who lived in flood-prone districts to move to safer locations in order to avoid being inundated by floods.
Borno State
To stop the recurring floods in Borno, the State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) has started a drain and waste cleanup operation.
The process was carried out in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other stakeholders, according to the agency’s general manager, Abubakar Suleiman.
In addition to addressing diseases linked to inadequate hygiene and sanitation, he said that the effort was also intended to clear drains and rivers and kill mosquito breeding grounds.
The manager reported that Governor Babagana Zulum had established a committee on floods with the task of identifying places vulnerable to flooding in order to take the required countermeasures.
Bauchi State
In Bauchi, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in partnership with relevant agencies, has taken some measures towards the flood mitigation and emergency response across the state.
Some of the measures, include Sensitisation for flood prone communities to remain alert and comply with government’s directives, and as well, preparation for evacuation of person’s to higher grounds.
The SEMA, had in August, reported that at least 700 houses and farmlands were destroyed by flood in Cheledi Community, Kirfi Local Government Area of the state.
Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the agency, Mr Adamu Nayola, who announced the incident, said: “More than 700 houses and farmlands were destroyed in Cheledi Community with rice, maize, sorghum, millet, sesame seeds and cowpea destroyed.”
With this development, the agency said it was working in collaboration with the state’s Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), development partners, among others to curb further damages occasioned by the flood.
Nayola, said the agency had embarked on an early warning sensitisation in flood-prone communities across the State, adding that Kirfi, Gamawa, Zaki, Alkaleri and Darazo are communities with high risk flooding.
The Director said the agency would soon embark on another sensitisation tour of the flood-prone areas to mobilise people for evacuation to safe areas.
He called on residents to shun indiscriminate dumping of waste and erection of structures on waterways to guard against flooding.
He said: “For now the flood is prone to Kirfi, Gamawa, Zaki, Alkaleri and Darazo LGAs, and our attention is there persistently.
“We urged the people to take the warning seriously, and learn to keep their environment clean at all times.”
