FG Alerts Nigerians of more rains and flooding in 19 states and FCT
The Federal Government has again alerted Nigerians of more rains and river flooding in nineteen states of the Federation and the FCT.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engr Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev issued the warning today at a press briefing on the current flood situation in the country held in Abuja.
He listed the States likely to be affected by the flooding beginning from this month to include, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Adamawa, Benue, Bayelsa,Cross River,Delta,Edo, Jigawa,Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna,Niger, Nasarawa,Ondo,Ogun, Rivers,Taraba and the FCT.
According to Professor Utsev, the flood outlook which was released in April this year and elaborated in three scenarios taking into consideration the hydrological year and the onset of rains in the country indicate that ,ten states in the country have already experienced one degree of flooding or the other with several casualties recorded including displacement of people.
He however said the flow situation at the country’s various monitoring stations in Niamey and River Benue sub-basin at Wuroboki in Adamawa State remain normal while there was no release of water from Lagdo dam at a moment assuring that the Nigerian government will continue to monitor it’s flow stations as it approach the critical months .
The Minister warned that the flooding especially in the southern part of the country may worsen the cholera outbreak in the country and there was a compelling need for citizens to improve on personal hygiene noting that he was working day and night along with his colleague ministers recently appointed by the President to tackle further spread of cholera in the country.
Professor Utsev called on states and local governments to educate their citizens on the need to improve on personal hygiene and imbibe the culture of keeping their surroundings clean and desist from indiscriminate disposal of wastes materials ,de-silt drainage channels and canals in their areas and relocate people living along the water ways or flood plains to safer grounds to avoid being cut off from the impending disaster.
Speaking on what efforts the Federal Government is doing to end perennial flooding in the country, the Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation Barr Bello Goronyo explained that the Ad-hoc Committee on Flood, Erosion, Draught and Desertification which he is Charing the Technical Committee has submitted its report to the National Economic Council NEC which has been approved and expressed optimism that implementation would soon commence .
On whether the states and local governments have complied with the warnings issued in April this year and their level of preparedness to mitigate the impact of flooding in their areas, the Director General,Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency NIHSA Engr Clement Nze said his agency and the ministry have no constitutional power to enforce compliance on states or local governments but can only issue advance informations for actors to take preventive measures.
