The Federal Government has forecasted that 94 towns are at risk of experiencing a five-day flooding period, starting Tuesday, July 16, and ending on July 20, 2024.
This information was disclosed by the Minister of State of Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, on Tuesday. According to Salako, the identified locations and their surrounding areas are expected to see heavy rainfall, which could lead to flooding during the predicted timeframe.
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Salako listed the affected states and towns, including Adamawa State (Gbajili, Ganye), Abia State (Eziama, Arochukwu), Anambra State (Onitsha), Akwa Ibom (Uyo, Upenekang, Oron, Edor, Eket, Obianga, Etinan), Bauchi State (Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi), Bayelsa State (Letugbene), Borno State (Maiduguri), Cross River State (Ikom, Calabar, Itigidi, Akpap), Nasarawa State (Udeni, Tunga), and the Federal Capital Territory (Abaji, Bwari). Other states include Jigawa State (Miga, Ringim, Dutse, Hadejia), Kano State (Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Wudil, Sumaila), Kebbi State (Gwandu, Jega, Kangiwa, Gauri-Banza, Ribah, Sakaba, Saminaka, Kamba, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Argungu, Bagudo), Katsina State (Bindawa, Jibia, Kaita, Katsina, Daura, Funtua), Kwara State (Kosubosu), Niger State (Ibi, Bida, Kontagora, Mashegu, Minna, New Bussa, Katcha, Rijau, Wushishi), Plateau State (Jos, Mangu), Rivers State (Port-Harcourt, Onne, Okrika, Bori), Sokoto State (Makira, Goronyo, Isa, Silame, Sokoto, Wamako), Taraba State (Gembu, Beli, Garkowa, Gasol, Serti, Donga, Duchi, Gwarzo, Gun gun Bodel), Yobe State (Gashua, Gasma, Damaturu, Geidam, Kanama), and Zamfara State (Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Shinkafi, Bukkuyum, Majara, Gummi).
The minister urged stakeholders to take proactive measures to mitigate the potential flooding.
Regarding the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, Salako mentioned that any notifications about opening the floodgates would come from the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation. He stated, “If there’s going to be any issue around the Lagdo Dam, they will inform the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, but I’m not sure they have had any information because if they have any information, they usually also transmit such information to us at the federal level.”
In response to the flood warning, the Sokoto State government has expressed its readiness to prevent flooding. The Commissioner for Information, Sambo Danchadi, indicated that the Sokoto Emergency Management Agency is actively working to maintain a safe environment. Mustapha Umar, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the agency, added that they have conducted sensitization and awareness programs in flood-prone areas and have an evacuation plan in place, which has been submitted to the National Emergency Management Agency.
Similarly, the Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control is continuing efforts to clear natural drains in Yenagoa and surrounding areas to reduce the impact of the anticipated flooding. The chairman of the directorate, Walson Omuso, highlighted that rural development authorities are locating higher grounds for makeshift relief camps. However, Omuso noted that the agency is not taking additional actions in response to the flood warning from the Federal Ministry of Environment.
