Agency Urges Residents in Floodplains to Move to Higher Ground as River Levels Rise
More than 8,000 communities and 4,500 schools across 15 states are at risk of flooding between September 19 and 25, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has warned.
The warning was contained in the latest National Flood Advisory issued by NiHSA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Arch Umar Mohammed.
The agency said rising river levels could trigger flooding in vulnerable communities, threatening schools, healthcare facilities, markets, religious buildings and farmlands.
The affected states are Imo, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Bayelsa, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Rivers and Lagos.
Mohammed urged state governments to urgently relocate residents in vulnerable communities to safer areas ahead of the forecast.
He said high riverine flood risk was expected across the affected states over the next seven days, particularly around floodplains and areas near rising river stages.
In Imo, NiHSA identified Aboh-Mbaise, Ahiazu-Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Ezinihitte, Ideato North, Ihitte/Uboma and Ikeduru as vulnerable. The agency said 958 communities, 1,022 schools, 553 healthcare facilities, 161 markets and 198 religious buildings were exposed.
In Cross River, the affected areas include Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Biase, Calabar, Calabar South, Ikom and Obubra. NiHSA listed 2,471 communities, 703 schools, 344 healthcare facilities, 145 markets, 453 religious buildings and 854 hectares of farmland as exposed.
In Ebonyi, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Afikpo South, Ebonyi, Ezza North and Ezza South were identified as vulnerable, with 2,574 communities, 1,064 schools, 422 healthcare facilities, 480 markets, 629 religious buildings and 1,882 hectares of farmland at risk.
Other affected areas include parts of Benue, Anambra and Akwa Ibom, where hundreds of communities, schools, healthcare facilities, markets and farmlands were also identified as exposed.
NiHSA advised residents in flood-prone areas, especially those living on floodplains, to take precautionary measures and move to higher ground where necessary.