The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has issued a warning that 94 towns across 22 states in Nigeria are at risk of experiencing severe flooding from Tuesday, July 16, to July 20, 2024.
The affected states include Adamawa, Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Nasarawa, Federal Capital Territory, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Katsina, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Specific towns mentioned include Gbajili and Ganye in Adamawa State; Eziama and Arochukwu in Abia State; Onitsha in Anambra State; Uyo, Upenekang, Oron, Edor, Eket, Obianga, and Etinan in Akwa Ibom State; and others.
Dr. Salako urged stakeholders to take proactive measures to mitigate the potential flooding.
When asked about the Lagdo Dam, he stated that the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is responsible for dam management and has not received notification from the Cameroonian government regarding the dam’s opening.
“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, they usually also transmit such information to us at the federal level,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Sokoto State government has disclosed that it is ready to manage any possible flooding across the state this year.
The Commissioner for Information, Sambo Danchadi, while speaking with one of our correspondents, said the state government, through one of the Sokoto Emergency Management Agency, was working round the clock to maintain a safe environment.
Also speaking, the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the Sokoto Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Umar, said the agency had carried out sensitisation and awareness programmes in flood-prone areas.
He said, “We even had an evacuation plan, the National Emergency Management Agency asked us to submit our plan and designated areas in case of flood and we have collated that and submitted it to them already.
“We have done a lot in terms of dishing out information to the people and creating awareness for them on dangers associated with flood.”
Also, the Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control said it would continue the task of clearing drains within Yenagoa and its environs to mitigate the impact of this year’s flood.
The chairman of the directorate, Walson Omuso, noted that the chairmen of the Rural Development Authorities were locating higher grounds for the erection of makeshift relief camps.
He, however, said the agency was not embarking on any fresh moves in reaction to the flood warning by the Federal Ministry of Environment, which named Bayelsa among states to be affected by flooding between now and July 20.
The minister’s warning comes as heavy rainfall is expected in the coming days, posing a significant risk of flooding in the affected areas. Residents are advised to take necessary precautions and follow evacuation orders if necessary.
