NIHSA issues flood alert in 14 Nigerian states

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) yesterday issued a flood alert to 14 states, urging those living in flood-prone areas to relocate.

The agency said most cities would experience severe flooding following a rise in the sea level and tidal surge.
NIHSA’s Director-General Moses Beckley said this in the 2016 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) in Abuja, warning that this year’s would be worse than the one in 2015.
He said flash and urban flooding might occur in Sokoto, Ibadan, Kaduna, Yola, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Hadejia and other cities.
The director general said: “The expected inflows this year will be lower than that of 2012. Meanwhile, the predicted probable flood area coverage in 2016 is expected to be higher than the predicted probable flood as well as the observed value of 2015.
“The expected areas of river flooding this year are Niger, Benue, Sokoto-Rima, Anambra-Imo, Cross River, Niger Delta, Komadougu-Yobe, Ogun-Osun.
“Some coastal areas, such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Calabar etc. will experience flooding due to rise in sea level and tidal surge, while flash and urban flooding is likely in Sokoto, Ibadan, Kaduna, Yola, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Hadejia and settlement along the coastal line.
“Those living along those places should keep a safe distance and those in areas with dams should be careful erecting structures close to the dams, because if there is high precipitation, and the reservoirs or dams rise up to a level, they will have to shed some water, which will affect those close by.
“We have said this based on factors we have considered. The Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) of NIMet and the geology, topography and morphology, vegetation have been taken into consideration, that is why we said we expect more flood.
He urged Nigerians not to build houses in restricted areas, urging them to build drainage system.
“When we build we must be conscious that the rains will come. Apart from harvesting the rains, we must also make way for the rains by constructing drainage systems.
“Such drainage system must be adequate. Because where it is not adequate again, that of course will not help matters because before you know it is full and it cannot contain the water and then it will flow over and affect those living in the environment.’’
“We should do the needful by clearing our drains and where there are no drainage systems, make sure you construct and then make sure that we do not look for the troubles of the rivers by going too close to them.
“There are environmental laws and also town planning guidelines and restrictions. In other words, for any town, or place at all, there are guidelines as to where you should construct or build anything and where you should not. In a situation whereby people now disregard such restrictions and they go build in areas where they should not build then they are looking for trouble. Who should they blame?”