Around 32 states and 233 local government areas in Nigeria are at high risk of flooding due to constant heavy rains in the country, alerted the Ministry of Water Resources.
The Minister of Water Resources of Nigeria, Suleiman Adamu, stated, “The level of floods in the highly potential flood risk areas between the months of April and November is predicted to be high in terms of effects on the population, livelihood, agriculture, livestock, infrastructure and the environment.”
Adamu further said, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos, the country’s commercial hub, are among the states that can experience heavy flooding.
He also said that some 233 local government areas in almost 32 states of and the FCT fall within the high potential risk areas, while 212 local government areas in 35 states, including the FCT, come within the less probable flood risk areas.
The Minister further called on all stakeholders to consider the early flood warnings, flood forecasts and information being issued by NIHSA in its weekly and monthly flood alerts to reduce flooding disasters in the nation.
The head of NIHSA, Clement Nze, stated that the major goal of the meeting is to raise awareness among the policymakers, farmers and also the general public, and preventive steps are needed to enhance safety and decrease damage to properties and lives.
Earlier, the Ogun State government, a state in Nigeria, warned residents that are residing in flood-prone areas to resettle to regions which are on higher grounds to protect themselves from predicted floods.
Ola Oresanya, the special advisor to the Governor on Environment, gave the warning while briefing newsmen regarding the efforts of the government against flooding and rainfall in 2022.
Many people are taking precautions like moving to higher ground regions and are urging the government to take some measures to protect their homes.
