Agency predicts flooding in Lagos, Delta, 32 others

The Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NHSA) predicts an overflow of the Niger-Benue River Basins and other sub-basins as the rains arrive, raising fears of flooding in states surrounding the facilities.

The states at the risk of impending natural disaster include Niger, Benue, Sokoto, Anambra, Imo, Cross River, Yobe, Ogun, Kebbi and Osun.

Others are Zamfara, Kastina, Kwara, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Kogi, Plateau and Nasarawa.

The rest consist of Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Lagos, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom, Ebonyi, Abia, Jigawa and Kano

Director General of NHSA, Moses Beckley, who made the disclosure at the official presentation of the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) in Abuja, also warned that Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo might experience coastal flooding due to rise in sea level and tidal surge.

He also hinted that flash and urban flood may occur in some urban locations like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Ibadan, Kaduna, Yola, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Hadejia, among other major cities with poor drainage systems.

Stating that the predicted probable flood area coverage for this year would be higher than that of last year, Beckley, however, said the expected inflows in the country for the year would be lower than that of 2012 flooding which resulted in loss of lives and properties in several states across the federation.

He, however, advised the affected states to construct reservoirs in selected areas wherein water could be channelled and deployed for other purposes like irrigation, fish farming among others.

“Rain water should be a blessing and not a curse. Reservoirs are more cost-effective than dams. Such could be located in selected areas and when that is done, Nigeria can have artificial lakes in many states which could be used for several purposes,” Beckley counselled.

He observed that the reservoirs would, among other things, help recharge the ground water, enabling the surrounding communities access ground water rain, as the commodity could be stored and made use of during scarcity or deficit.

Beckley said that about 88billion cubic litres of water come from neighboring countries, stressing the need by the states to preserve the fluid.