Flood Alert: FG Warns 33 States As Rising River Levels Threaten Communities

The federal government has issued a fresh flood warning to 33 states, raising concerns over possible riverine flooding as rising water levels threaten communities located along floodplains and other vulnerable areas.

A seven-day forecast, issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), warned that increasing river levels could trigger flooding in several locations across the affected states, placing lives, homes, farmlands and critical infrastructure at risk.

The states identified as being at high risk include Kaduna, Niger, Taraba, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno and Cross River.
Others are Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Plateau.

Worried by the potential impact of rising river levels, the NIHSA urged residents living on floodplains and other flood-prone locations to move immediately to safer and higher ground, stressing the need for early action before water levels become critical.

The agency also called on state and local governments in the affected areas to activate their early-warning systems and emergency response plans to minimise loss of lives and property.

The latest alert underscores the growing flood threat confronting several parts of the country during the ongoing rainy season, with communities located close to rivers and other waterways particularly vulnerable to sudden increases in water levels.

NIHSA urged relevant authorities and residents to take the warning seriously, monitor official flood alerts and avoid waiting until flooding begins before taking precautionary measures.