FG Warns of Risk of Severe Flooding in Oyo, 27 Other States

The Federal Government has warned that no fewer than 28 states, Oyo inclusive, are likely to experience severe flooding this year.

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu gave this warning on Thursday at the public presentation of the 2021 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) held in Abuja.

Adamu listed the states likely to experience severe flooding to include Oyo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara states.

The minister noted that the 2012 flood brought about massive destruction of lives and properties across the country.

This, he said, made putting in place the proper precautions to prevent a reoccurrence by Nigerians an absolute necessity.

According to him, the NIHSA forecasts have increased the awareness among the citizenry and will hopefully lead to the proper measures being taken to prevent flood damage in the states he mentioned.

“This year, we will be grappling with the two threats of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the impending floods as predicted in the AFO.

“The flood projections show varying severity across parts of the country.

“In summary, the 2021 AFO forecast indicates that 302 local government areas in 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will fall within the moderate probable flood risk areas.

“It is expected from the forecast that 121 local government areas in 28 states will fall within the highly probable risk areas.

“The states surrounding Rivers Niger and Benue are, without doubt, going to experience severe flooding.

“Floods come with attendant health risks through the contamination of potable water sources. The 2021 flooding will be exacerbated by the continuing ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.