The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has issued a warning, stating that 148 local government districts spread over 31 states are likely to experience flooding in 2024.
During the formal announcement of the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) on Monday in Abuja, Utsev gave this warning.
“Promoting the Use of Data Analytics and Modeling for Flood Risk Assessments and Food Security” is this year’s AFO theme.
According to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN), the annual AFO predictions are led by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kogi are the states that have been recognized.
The others are Rivers, Plateau, Yobe, Sokoto, Taraba, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo.
Utsev emphasized the significance of taking preventative action to lessen the effects of future flooding in these locations.
In order to minimize harm to people and property, he added, early warning systems, community involvement, and readiness were necessary.
According to the minister, there might be significant effects on infrastructure, the environment, livestock, agriculture, livelihoods, and population in the high flood risk zones, which would run from April to November 2024.
Prior to this, Prof. Charles Anosike, Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), stated that strengthening the country’s catastrophe preparedness required collaboration between NIHSA and his agency.
The National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) Director General, Zubaida Umar, emphasized the critical need for preventative actions to lessen the effects of floods across the nation.
In order to improve preparedness and flood control measures, Clement Nze, Director-General of NIHSA, emphasized the critical role that cooperation amongst disaster risk managers, earth observers, mission makers, and other stakeholders plays. (NAN)