By Gabriel Ewepu
ABUJA — The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has warned of possible high riverine flooding in Niger, Kaduna and 25 other states within the next seven days due to rising river levels.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiHSA, Arc. Umar Mohammed, issued the alert on Thursday, noting that communities located along floodplains should prepare for possible evacuation to safer locations.
According to the agency, the affected states include Niger, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasarawa, Taraba, Ogun, Kogi, Benue, Ekiti, Osun, Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom.
NiHSA said its forecast indicated that 53 monitoring stations are at risk, with 27 states potentially affected, including 186 communities, 96 schools, 35 health centres, 14 markets, 14 religious centres and several hectares of farmland.
Mohammed said the anticipated flooding was linked to rising river stages, which could result in overflow in vulnerable areas.
“High riverine flood risk forecast for the next seven days across Niger, Kaduna and 25 other states. Rising river stages are expected to cause flooding,” he said.
“Communities on the floodplain should prepare to move to higher ground. Stations at risk include Katsina Ala on the Katsina Ala River, Itoikin on the Aye River and Onitsha on the Niger River.”
The NiHSA boss urged state governments, emergency agencies and communities in affected areas to activate early warning mechanisms and take precautionary measures.
He advised residents to avoid crossing flooded roads, bridges or fast-moving water, either on foot or with vehicles.
The agency also urged communities to clear drainage channels and river-mouth blockages, avoid construction and habitation on floodplains, and relocate people, livestock and valuables to identified safer locations.
NiHSA further advised states to monitor daily flood bulletins, pre-position relief materials, water treatment supplies and first-aid equipment, while preparing emergency shelters for possible displacement.
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