Seven Yobe council areas prone to flooding, warns GloFAS

Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS) has warned that seven local councils could be flooded in the next 10 days.

The identified flood-prone councils include Yusufari, Yunusari, Bursari, Geidam, Karasuwa, Nguru and Bade, a border community with Niger Republic.

Director of Information Services in the state’s Ministry of Information, Husna Ibrahim, disclosed, yesterday, in Damaturu that the seven councils are under severity three, while others are at levels two and one.

“The flood severity levels have exceeded the normal threshold in the Komadugu/Yobe River Basin in the state,” she said.

Consequently, the director said the state government would monitor water levels in the basin, reservoirs and dams constructed across the river.

She attributed the expected flooding to the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroun into River Benue and Challawa Dam in Kano State.

According to her, the GloFAS forecast of August 24, 2023 indicated increased risk of flooding in many communities along the river basin.

SIMILARLY, Edo State Government, yesterday, advised residents in lowlands and riverine areas, including those in Agenebode, Anegbete and Ilullshi of Etsako East, Etsako Central and Esan South East local councils to relocate to a higher plain.

Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City.

Nehikhare said the authorities of Lagdo Dam in Cameroun would be releasing modulated amounts of water into River Benue due to flooding caused by incessant downpour.

“Residents in lowlands and riverine areas are hereby put on notice to be vigilant and relocate to a higher plain. The state government will provide support to those displaced from their homes by the rising water level.

“Because we know this is going to happen, we had to move quickly to ensure that our Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps are in good condition and the residents adequately briefed and sensitised,” Nehikhare said.