Be Prepared for severe flooding this year in Nigeria – Suleiman Adamu

The Minister of Water Resources of Nigeria Mr. Suleiman Adamu announced on Thursday (6^th May) that about 28 states of the country is likely to be exposed severe flooding this year. He was addressing at the annual presentation of the “Annual Flood Outlook 2021” organized by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA) in Abuja as released by the News Agency of Nigeria.  He informed that the likelihood of flooding may be imminent in states such as Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Kebbi. He was also predicting that states situated along river Niger and river Benue shall be probably experiencing more severe floods than other states that will aggravate the situation in the country which is already grappling with the global pandemic of COVID-19. However he added that Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA) weather forecasts and alerts have increased the level of awareness among citizens and made them prepared to deal with the emergent situation.

The federal Republic of Nigeria is an African country in the west Africa situated on the Gulf of Guinea. Flooding is one of the most common disasters in the country causing widespread loss of lives and destructions of infrastructures and properties. Climate change is also linked with varied degrees of flooding in the country. With the onset of first rainy season in March that ends in July with a peak in the month of June, varied degrees of flooding reported in different states. This duration of rainy season is followed by “August Break “– a short dry break spanning two to three weeks. Some of the common reasons of flooding in Nigeria are poor or inadequate drainage systems; poor waste management system; Uncontrolled and mismanaged urbanization and lack of long term planning for dealing with urban flooding in states.