By Fatima Saka, Dauda Abbas
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The federal government (FG) has vowed to continuously monitor water levels in rivers across the country to forestall possible flood emergencies.
This was contained in a statement report released by the Director.General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr Clement Nze, through the press unit on Monday in Abuja, stating that it is necessary to prevent disasters and emergency situations that could occur from excessive rainfall.
The agency had predicted in its 2023 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) that 178 Local Government Areas in 32 States and the Capital Territory fall within the “Highly Probable Flood Risks Areas.”
Also, there is a possibility that many states may be affected by the decision of the Cameroonian government to release excess water from its Lagdo dam.
According to the report, every year neighboring Cameroon, which runs along Nigeria’s eastern border, releases water from a dam in northern Cameroon, causing flooding downstream in Nigeria.
“We maintain close watch on all of the rivers, as we are getting into the peak of the rainy season. There are many rivers within the Benue tributaries that could cause flooding whether Cameroon releases water into Nigeria or not.
“Most of those rivers are not dammed, apart from Katsina-Ala River where we have kashimbilla dam. It contributes to 26 percent of River Benue. If the rainfall intensifies more, which we are monitoring, there could be flooding from that axis.”
The director general said states should complement the Federal Government’s efforts by sensitizing their populace on flood disaster prevention, saying FG cannot do it alone.
“States should follow the Federal Government to sensitize their people. They should know the flashpoints.
“The state emergency management agencies know the locations. When they need to relocate people, they should do so on time.
“Flood issues occur in the communities, and the states should take responsibility for it. They should take more action, to sensitize and relocate their people to safer grounds.
“They should augment the relief materials that NEMA is providing so as to give succour to the people; they should be on standby in all those flood flashpoints.”
Nze recalled that after the 2012 flood incidents, the FG constituted the Presidential Committee for Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR) to raise funds and provide succour to flood victims.
Flood Hostels
He said many states had flood hostels functioning and said that states were duty bound to support the committee’s effort to cushion the immediate effects of flooding and recovery of affected persons.
According to him, the Committee, co-chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, had monies donated from individuals and corporate entities to the tune of N12 billion.
He said the committee had been urging the states to take over these facilities for the people, and not only for flood emergencies.
“There are some states that are very critical in terms of flooding. This committee built hostels and well equipped clinics, water facilities, basic amenities. Drugs are donated, light, kitchen, clinics etc are available to provide temporary relief in times of emergencies.
“Many states delay in keying into these interventions; You can’t expect the federal government to do everything, where there are states and local governments available.
“States should be able to take over and run it to the benefit of the people in states and not during flood emergencies alone.”
While commending the National Emergency Management Agency for giving succor to flood victims, Nze urged Nigerians living in flood-prone areas to be watchful and move to higher ground.
On Cameroon’s release of excess water from its Dam, Nze said the country didn’t enter into any legal agreements to notify or not, saying non-release of the dam’s excess water would be more dangerous to Nigeria.
He added that there was no cause for alarm, as no immediate threat to the country, even as the dam was opened since August 14, spilling water at the rate of about 20 million cubic metres per day — about 200 metres per second.
According to a reports that 32 states and the FCT, which are within the Highly Probable Flood Risks Areas include; Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross- River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo.
Others are; Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, as well as Zamfara and the FCT.
Nigeria Prepares relief for victims
The FG has taken steps to reduce the impact of a possible flood from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam.
The Nigerian government has advised state
governments in frontline areas to evacuate people living in flood-prone areas to safer places. The government has also pledged to provide shelters and medical support for the affected citizens.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, said that the government is working with the Presidential Committee on coordination and implementation to mitigate the effects of the flood.
She also appealed to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to step up actions and ensure the safety of Nigerians.
The Minister of Environment, Dr Ishaq Salako, said that the ministry has activated flood warning alerts and is providing regular and real-time information to the public.
He also said that the ministry will present recommendations on long-term measures and solutions to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said that the ministry will work with Cameroon authorities to ensure that the water release does not cause harm to the environment and human health.
He also said that the ministry will construct dams and dredge rivers across the country to end the annual flooding.
The government also urged Nigerians to clear drainages and avoid dumping waste in waterways. The government said that it is committed to protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians from the flood.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has been urged to complete the construction of the Hausa-Dasin Dam in Adamawa State and the dredging of the River Benue, to mitigate flooding and its devastating effect on communities.
The Adamawa state commissioner for Environment made this appeal. He explains that the Fintiri administration has put in place preventive measures to mitigate the flooding usually caused by opening of Lagdo dam in Cameroon republic.
A recent announcement by the federal government that the authority of the federal republic of Cameroon will open up Lagdo Dam is now causing panic among Adamawa residents and farming communities living on the banks of river Gongola.
Adamawa state has been one of the states along the River Niger that usually suffers the consequences and the prediction by NEMA of impending floods in the state.
The commissioner believes these yearly floods caused by the release of water from the Lagdo dam can be permanently mitigated if President Bola Tinubu were to complete the construction of the Hausa-Dasin Dam in Adamawa State and the dredging of the River Benue.
