Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has warned Nigerians
to expect more flooding in the coming days, following the information obtained
from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
NiMet Director General, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, gave the warning
in Abuja at a workshop on Hydro-meteorological Status and Outlook System
(HydroSOS).
This is coming as the death toll from the flood that has hit
various states in the country hits 500.
While stating the part of the country which would be most
affected, coupled with dams being left open by the neighbouring countries,
Matazu noted that there will be more floods.
The DG warned, ”from the information we’re getting from
NIHSA we’re going to see more floods. The rain is now concentrating more on the
North Central and the southern states. So that will be a combination of
short-duration, high-intensity rain, with riverine flooding.
”So we’re going to see more of these floods in the
NorthCentral states as we are seeing in Kogi and SouthEastern and Southwestern
states.
“Remember, we issued the forecast in February and we
followed up with the monthly updates that we’re going to have above-normal
rainfall in most parts of the country. So in terms of the rainfall-induced
floods, we’ve seen the peak but remember we told you that this rainwater gets
collected into the reservoirs and dams, and whenever they are filled, it gets
spilt. So, the Lagbo Dam was released on 13th of September. And also Kainji and
Shiroro dams were released. So what we’re witnessing now is riverine flooding.
“And from the information getting from NIHSA we’re going to
see more floods. And now the rain is concentrating on the North Central and the
southern states. So we’re going to see more of these floods in the
north-central states as we are seeing in Kogi and also southeastern and
southwestern states as we are beginning to see in many parts of the South-
West.
“In Africa, water-related hazards such as flood, drought etc
has become a major cause of food insecurity, strains on livelihoods, health
risks and conflicts in many parts of the continent.”
Matazu, who noted that the flood that happened was primarily caused by rainfall and not the released dams, added that this has been heightened by people who build on flood plains and the rise in water levels in the River Niger and Benue.
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