The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a warning that as of Saturday, August 23, significant flooding along the River Niger from the Niger Republic and Mali may have a negative impact on some areas of Nigeria.
Architect Umar Ibrahim Mohammed issued a “Flood Warning Alert” on behalf of NIHSA, the Director-General, alerting people to the possibility of severe flooding in Kebbi, other States, and various communities in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), hereby brings to the attention of the general public the rising water levels of the River Niger system as at 23rd August 2024; this is due to among others, a report from the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) in Niamey Niger Republic.
“The situation in Niamey is informed by upstream activities in both Niger and Mali; flood waters from these two countries is expected to move gradually into Nigeria through Kebbi State.
“The dams operators at Kainji and Jebba on the River Niger have been informed and are prepared: it is important to note that as at 22nd august 2024, the dams are not spilling water from their reservoirs.
“There is need for all the states and communities along the River Niger system to be on alert all through August ending and September; NIHSA will continue to monitor the flood situation in the country, and provide periodic update accordingly,” he stated.
On April 16, this year, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, unveiled the NIHSA’s 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), with the theme, “Promoting The Use of Data Analytics & Modeling for Flood Risk Assessments and Food Security.” Utsev emphasized the crucial role that proven data approaches play in reducing the risk of flooding and guaranteeing food security in Nigeria, noting that the AFO for 2024 indicates that 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 31 States of the Federation are at risk of high flood, while 249 LGAs in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are within areas with moderate flood risk.
These states are: Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, and Nasarawa.
