More than 100 communities across 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at risk of flooding over the next 14 days due to expected heavy rainfall, drainage surcharge and rising river levels.
The warning was issued by the National Flood Early Warning System Centre under the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.
In a statement signed by the department’s Director, Mr Usman Bokani, said communities in Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers and Taraba were classified as critical flood-risk areas.
Mr Bokani said communities in Adamawa, the Federal Capital Territory, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara were classified as volatile and advised authorities to activate flood monitoring, evacuation routes and measures to protect vulnerable households.
He urged communities in high-risk areas to intensify drainage clearance, monitor culverts and stream channels, and maintain community-level reporting of rainfall, dam releases and changes in river levels.
The director also called on state controllers, State Emergency Management Agencies, local government environmental officers and community flood focal persons to strengthen surveillance around rivers, channels, culverts, bridges and other flood-prone corridors.
He said the measures are necessary to safeguard lives and property before, during and after the anticipated heavy rainfall.
RN
