Flood Crisis Looms AS FG Warns Nigerians To Flee River Banks As Water Levels Surge

Flood Crisis Looms FG Warns Nigerians To Flee River Banks As Water Levels SurgeThe Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued an urgent warning to Nigerians living near riverbanks along the River Benue Basin, advising them to relocate to safer areas as water levels have reached critical flooding thresholds due to continuous rainfall.

In a statement yesterday, NIHSA Director-General Umar Mohammed stressed that the water levels on both River Benue and River Niger are rising, and the Kainji and Jebba Dams’ management teams are working to manage the flow of floodwaters.

This advisory comes in light of the release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, which has historically contributed to severe flooding in Nigeria. A recent overflow from Alau Dam in Maiduguri, Borno State, has already resulted in the loss of over 30 lives and the destruction of thousands of homes.

Nigerians are urged to cooperate with emergency agencies to build resilience against the frequent floods and mitigate their devastating effects. Flooding in 2022 claimed 665 lives and displaced over 2 million people, while in 2023, similar events affected 159,157 individuals and displaced 48,168. So far in 2024, 1,048,312 people have been impacted by floods, with 259 fatalities.