Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja
The Federal Government has said most parts of the country will witness moderate to severe flooding this year.
It said this was part of findings in the 2020 flood protections for Nigeria.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this in Abuja at the official presentation/unveiling of the 2020 Annual Flood Outlook and new Flood Mobile App.
The minister’s address at the ceremony was made available to our correspondent by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on Sunday night in Abuja.
Adamu said, “Overall, the flood level may not be as severe as previous years. But it is near certainty that our rivers will exceed the flood level and many areas would be inundated again this year.”
He further stated that according to the 2020 AFO predictions, some parts of at least 102 Local Government Areas in 28 states fell within the highly probable flood risk areas.
“While parts of 275 LGAs in the 36 states of the federation, including Federal Capital Territory, fall within the moderate probable flood risk areas,” the minister stated.
Adamu said the states that were contiguous to Rivers Niger and Benue were likely to be affected by river flooding.
He outlined the states to include Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Bayelsa states.
“Coastal flooding is expected in Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ondo and Bayelsa states, while flash and urban floods are expected to occur in major cities across the country due to poor drainage system,” he stated.
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