By Fatima Saka
The Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency has called for urgent intervention as flood ravaged sixteen (16) LGA in Jigawa State, with high ratio of heavy intensities in Lagos, Adamawa, amongst others.
The Director General of Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) Engr. Clement Onyeaso Nze made the call Wednesday in Abuja while briefing the press on the Overview of 2022 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO): update on flood situations in the Country.
The Director General of NIHSA said the government needs to fast-track its enforce on drainage systems, also to control dams operation on how and when they should release the water as Nigeria is among River Basin which comprises nine (9) countries and that Nigeria is at the bottom, that whatever happened between those countries Nigeria will be at the receiving end of flooding.
According to him, the general outlook shows: ” 233 Local Government Area (LGAs) in 32 States of the Federation and the FCT which fall within highly probable flood risk areas.
” 212 LGAs in 35 states of the Federation including the FCT fall within the moderately probable flood risk area, while the remaining 329 LAGs fall within the probable flood risk areas,” he stated.
Following the prediction of states that at risks of flooding, listed are: Adamawa, Abia, Akwa ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-river, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba,Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT.
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However, NIHSA further recommends and urges the states and the general public to take necessary measures to avert flooding, which as follows:
“Clearing of blocked drainage systems and canals, Removal of refuse, weeds, water hyacinths, and floats on water channels.
” Relocate to higher grounds people living along the water-ways and those carrying out socio-economic activities on the flood plains.
“Improved system for flood monitoring, flood forecasting and flood early warning.
“Effective and efficient operational procedure for dams and reservoirs and maintenance of other hydraulic and water infrastructure across the country.
“Construction of dykes, flood-walls, buffer dams, detention basins and water retaining structures.
“Carrying out River Training activities and maintenance of drainage by the removal of silt and sediment deposits in rivers to improve their conveyance capacities and from dams, lakes and reservoirs to increase their storage capacities for the containment of the incoming floodwaters.
