The Federal Government has warned Nigerians to brace for major flooding this year, which is expected to affect 178 local councils across 32 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The Minister of Water Resource, Suleiman Adamu gave the warning in Abuja on Friday, during the official launch of the 2022 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), entitled ‘Flood Prediction and its impact on Socio-Economic Livelihood’.
Adamu noted that states along the coast would experience coastal flooding as a result of the rise in sea level, while major centres across the nation would face flash and urban floods.
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In his words, “The forecasts for 2023 AFO shows that 178 local councils in 32 states of the federation and the FCT fall within the Highly Probable Flood Risk Areas, while 224 local councils in 35 states of the federation, including the FCT, fall within the Moderately Probable Flood Risk Areas. The remaining 402 local councils fall within the Probable Flood Risk Areas. The Highly Probable Flood Risk States 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.
“Highly Probable Flood Risk Areas between the months of April and November, in 2023 the level of floods in this category is expected to be high in terms of impact on the population, agriculture, livelihood, livestock and infrastructure, and the environment. Part of 66 local councils across the country falls within the Highly Probable Risk areas in the months of April, May and June, while part of 148 local councils in the months of July, August and September, and part of 100 local councils in the months of October and November 2023. The details of the councils and their corresponding states are contained in the publication.”
The Minister called on all stakeholders, policymakers and agencies to develop effective plans to curtail imminent floods.
Story was adapted from The Guardian
