The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued an urgent warning to residents living near riverbanks along the River Benue Basin to relocate to safer areas immediately, following rising water levels due to heavy rainfall.
The Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, sounded the alarm in a statement released yesterday, cautioning that the river has reached a critical flooding stage.
Mohammed also advised those residing along the River Niger to move to safe locations, noting that the management of Kainji and Jebba dams are currently working to mitigate the potential flooding.
“We urge everyone living along these rivers to take immediate action and relocate to safer grounds. The situation is becoming critical, and floodwaters are rising,” he warned.
In addition to relocation, the NIHSA Director-General called on Nigerians to collaborate with emergency management agencies to build resilience against flooding and minimize its impact.
“It is essential for Nigerians to cooperate with our emergency management agencies. Together, we can reduce the damage caused by these floods,” he stated.
This warning follows recent government alerts concerning the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, which has significantly contributed to rising water levels. Previously, the overflow of the Alau Dam in Maiduguri resulted in a tragic loss of over 30 lives and destroyed thousands of homes in the Borno State capital.
According to data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), flooding in Nigeria has been a recurring disaster. In 2022, floods claimed 665 lives, displaced 2,437,411 individuals, and affected 4,476,867 people across the country.
The year 2023 saw further devastation with 159,157 people impacted, 28 lives lost, and 48,168 displaced. Much of this was attributed to the release of water from the Lagdo Dam.
For 2024, between April and September alone, floods affected 1,048,312 people, displaced 625,239 persons, and claimed 259 lives, according to NEMA. With the increasing frequency of floods, authorities are urging greater awareness and proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable communities.
