The Nigeria Hydrological Services Institution (NIHSA), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, has projected additional disastrous floods from the end of August to early October.
NIHSA warned flood will get worse in various states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within that period.
According to the agency, severe flooding occurred in Lagos, Nasarawa, Anambra, Abia, Kwara, Kaduna, Rivers, Enugu, Borno, and Ondo states as a result of heavy local rainfalls compounded by a poor drainage system.
In an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Nze Clement Onyeaso warned that from the end of August, all places already classified as flood prone this year, as well as those along the Niger and Benue Rivers, will likely see more disastrous flooding.
“The River Niger Basin is home to nine countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria. Nigeria is at the bottom of the Basin, which means that if the Basin’s upper catchment floods, Nigeria will be swamped. Flooding occurred in the area during this time. T
he DG stated that his agency was watching the situation and that it will continue to monitor Cameroonian authorities in reference to flood scenarios in the sub-upper basin’s catchment.”
Engr. Nze warned Lagosians against dredging and sound filling the Atlantic Ocean to build what are commonly referred to as model cities, such as those in Lekki and Banana Island, saying that such practices could pose serious threats in the future.
The DG urged Nigerians, particularly state governments, to be adequately prepared for the predicted floods by cleaning blocked drainage systems and canals and removing garbage, weeds, water hyacinths, and floating on water channels.
According to the Daily Trust, the Agency had previously predicted that severe floods will occur in 121 LGAs across 27 states and the FCT this year.