In recent times, floods in Nigeria have taken a turn for the worse. In a bid to counteract this, the FG has placed some states as having high flood risk. The Federal Government has warned 32 States and 178 local government areas including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja are on high alert ahead of predicted floods in 2023.
Minister of Water Resource, Suleiman Adamu, announced this at the Annual Flood Outlook(AFO). This is an event organised by the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency(NIHSA) in Abuja.
He said;
“The forecasts for 2023 show that 178 local government areas in 32 states of the Federation and the FCT fall within the high flood risk areas.
“While 224 LGAs in 35 States including FCT, fall within the moderate flood risk areas. The remaining 372 LGAs fall within the low flood-risk areas.
“The high flood risk states are as follows; 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 Federal Capital Territory.
“High flood risk areas between the months of April and November 2023, and the level of floods in this category is expected to be high in terms of impact on the population, agriculture, livelihood livestock and infrastructure.”
He added that parts of 66 LGAs across the country fall within the highest flood areas in April, May and June. Other parts of 114 LGAs fall in July, August and September with 100 LGAs falling in October and November 2023.
Adamu maintained the 2022 flood was the worst recorded in the country in terms of impact, affecting nearly all 36 States including the FCT with severe devastation and destruction of properties, infrastructures, farmlands, agriculture and livestock.
He stated that over 1.4 million people were affected, 616 persons were killed, and thousands of people were displaced. The hope is that by pointing out these high flood-risk areas, it would be easier to manage.
cc: The NationNg
