The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued another flood alert to state governments to activate flood safety mechanisms following rising water levels in Rivers Niger and Benue.
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Director General NEMA, Zubaida Umar, in a statement, said that NEMA has initiated contacts with identified state governments and relevant stakeholders ahead of highly probable flood disasters that may occur in communities at risk especially those close to the rivers.

While alerting the states on the high possibility of a flood disaster, the DG explained that NEMA has also activated the agency’s operation offices, deployed technical staff, and prepositioned critical equipment for timely response search and rescue and evacuation to safer higher grounds.

The alert is in addition to the ongoing intervention in states impacted by flooding.
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Last week, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), issued information that Cameroonian authorities have commenced intermittent release of excess water from Lagdo Dam.

The water release in addition to the high rainfalls in Nigeria has led to the rising water levels in Rivers Benue and Niger, the statement notes.

“The observed water level as at Monday 23rd September 2024, in River Benue at Yola has reached the highest warning point at 8.7 meters, while the level in Makurdi has entered the red alert at 9.63 meters,” NIHSA said.
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“The situation in Lokoja was also observed to be alarming as the level has reached 8.89 meters with flooding already recorded upstream in Kebbi State.”

Also, reports from the NEMA Minna Operations office have indicated the onset of flood disasters along riparian communities in Niger state with human displacement and damage to infrastructure. Damage and loss assessment is already ongoing.

The frontline states at risk of flooding are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Rivers, and Kwara.
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