The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA)
on Wednesday warned that 12 states might
experience high flood this year.

The Director-General of the agency, Dr Moses
Beckley, gave the warning at the presentation of
the 2015 Annual Flood Outlook in Abuja.

Commenting on the highlight of the report, Beckley
listed the states as Niger, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers,
Anambra, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Sokoto,
Adamawa, Kogi and Benue.

Beckley said that probable risks areas in the
country had been classified into: High Risk, Medium
Risk and Low Risk Flood areas.

He listed River Basins of Sokoto-Rima, Niger-Benue
and Anambra as those that might experience high
flooding.

Beckley also said that local areas in Shinkafi, Biase,
Chikum, Munya, Bukuru, Bonny, Etiosa among
others might experience moderate flooding.

The director-general said that Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta
and Lagos are expected to experience coastal
flooding due to the rise in sea level and tidal surge.

He urged Nigerians to put in place responsive
measures that would help in reducing flood
hazards.

According to him, the call is necessary because
human activities are majorly responsible for
recurrent flood in the country.

“Indiscriminate dumping of refuse, deforestation,
and poor drainage systems have devastating effect
on the environment.

“Natural disasters are becoming more common all
over the world, 80 per cent of these disasters are
water-related.

“This can be linked to the effect of climate change,
it is a reality, and we can’t reverse it.

“That is why we must do all we can, through
attitudinal changes, and measures in place to help
in reducing flooding hazards,” he said.

Beckley said that the devastating effect of flooding
would greatly affect socio-economic development.

The director-general said that with timely and
proper responses, Nigerians do not need to worry
about the rains.

He recommended that all stakeholders should begin
immediate public enlightenment on the need to
desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuses and
wastes.

Beckley also urged all stakeholders to begin
immediate maintenance of hydrological structures
in the country, saying this would go a long way to
reduce disaster risk.

He also called for the immediate evacuation and
relocation of people living in the flood-prone areas
and waterways to further mitigate against any
eventuality.

Also speaking, the Director-General, Nigeria
Metrological Agency, Dr Anthony Anuforom,
commended NIHSA on the report.

He said that this would go a long way to educate
Nigerians on what to expect during the rainy
season.

Anuforom said that NIMET had made it a point of
duty to educate Nigerians on weather forecast
through its Seasonal Rainfall Predictions (SRP).

He urged Nigerians to embark on disaster risk
reduction measures to make the country safe for
all.

In his remark, Mr Istifanus Musa, the Permanent
Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources,
said that the report was drawn in partnership with
NIMET’s SRP, and a long historical record of
hydrological data.

Musa, represented by Mr Joe Kwanashe, Director,
Irrigation and Drainage, said that through
sensitisation and early warning campaigns, there
would be a reduction in loss of lives and property to
flood.

Musa urged Nigerians to collaborate with relevant
stakeholders to put in place measures to protect
the environment, saying that government could not
do it alone.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the
Annual Flood Outlook provides flood forecasts and
advice on precautionary measures on probable or
critical flood zones.


http://dailypost.ng/2015/07/06/12-states-prone-to-flood-in-2015-nihsa/
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