The Federal Government has warned residents of Lagos, Delta, Imo, Cross River and 11 other states to prepare for a high risk of riverine flooding. Residents should move away from vulnerable areas due to the current Nigeria flood warning.
According to Vanguard, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency issued the Nigeria flood warning for the period between September 19 and 25. The agency said that rising river levels could affect communities and critical infrastructure.
NiHSA Director-General Umar Mohammed urged state governments to begin moving residents living in vulnerable locations to safer and higher ground. In light of the Nigeria flood warning, authorities are intensifying efforts for a swift response.
“High riverine flood risk is forecast for the next seven days across Imo, Cross River and 13 other states. Rising river stages are expected to cause flooding,” Mohammed said.
15 states face severe flood risk
NiHSA listed Lagos, Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Bayelsa, Enugu, Kogi, Delta, Abia, Taraba and Rivers. These states are exposed to the forecast.
The agency warned that schools, healthcare facilities, markets, religious buildings, homes and farmland could be affected by the impact of the Nigeria flood warning.
In Imo, seven local government areas are considered vulnerable, with 958 communities, 1,022 schools and 553 healthcare facilities exposed.
Cross River could see impacts across eight local government areas, including Calabar, Calabar South, Ikom and Obubra.
NiHSA identified more than 2,400 communities in the state as exposed, alongside hundreds of schools, hospitals, markets and religious buildings.
NiHSA urges residents to relocate
The agency also identified more than 2,500 vulnerable communities in parts of Ebonyi State.
Several local government areas in Benue, Anambra and Akwa Ibom were also placed under the warning.
“Communities on the floodplain should prepare to move to higher ground,” Mohammed said.
NiHSA urged state and local authorities to take preventive action. Instead of waiting for flooding to begin, they should evacuate vulnerable residents.
The warning covers the seven-day period ending September 25, closely linked with the ongoing Nigeria flood warning across multiple states.
