Indications emerged that major cities across Nigeria may witness an unprecedented flood, as the water level in Rivers Benue at Yola, Adamawa State, as of Monday, September 23, 2024, reached the highest warning point at 8.7 metres, while the level in Makurdi has entered the red alert at 9.63 metres.
The frontline states identified to be at risk of flooding are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Rivers, and Kwara, respectively.
In swift response to the rising water levels in Rivers Niger and Benue, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has initiated contacts with the identified state governments and relevant stakeholders ahead of a highly probable flood disaster that may occur in communities at risk, especially those close to the rivers.
This is in addition to the ongoing intervention in states that are already impacted by flooding.
The NEMA Director General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, in a statement obtained by Tribune Online, alerted state governments on the high possibility of a flood disaster.
She, however, assured that the agency has also activated the agency’s operation offices, deployed technical staff, and prepositioned critical equipment for timely response search and rescue as well as evacuation to safer higher grounds.
Recall that the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had last week issued information that Cameroonian authorities have commenced the intermittent release of excess water from Lagdo Dam, which in addition to the high rainfalls in Nigeria have led to the rising water levels in Rivers Benue and Niger.
According to the NEMA Director General, the observed water level as of Monday, September 23, 2024, in River Benue at Yola has reached the highest warning point at 8.7 metres, while the level in Makurdi has entered the red alert at 9.63 metres.
The situation in Lokoja was also observed to be alarming, as the level has reached 8.89 metres with flooding already recorded upstream in Kebbi State.
Reports from the NEMA Minna Operations office also indicated the onset of a flood disaster along Riparian communities in Niger State with human displacement and damage to infrastructure. Damage and loss assessment is already ongoing.
“With the activation and deployment, NEMA operation offices and technical officers will work with the relevant state ministries, departments, and agencies in order to establish Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) for coordination and activation of local actors for the emergency response.
“These will include advocacy for communities at risk, evacuation planning, identification of high safe ground for temporary shelters, and prepositioning of equipment for evacuation and rescue.
“Sector leads have also been alerted to provide priority needs to the impacted persons in the event of displacement of persons to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and other safer locations.
“Furthermore, NEMA is coordinating with the Military, Nigeria Police, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to deploy their disaster response personnel, Police Marine and Disaster Management Unit operatives, respectively, where necessary, and the Nigerian Red Cross Society to also activate volunteers.”
To this end, NEMA’s Director General advised residents in flood-prone areas, especially communities along Rivers Benue and Niger, to remain vigilant and cooperate with emergency service providers as the agency continues to monitor the situation closely.
“Please refer to www.nema.gov.ng for continuous updates as the situation evolves,” the NEMA Director General said in a statement issued by its Press Unit.
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