…Lists Kebbi, Plateau, Bayelsa, Kano, Ogun, others as prone states
By Hillary Asemota
The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on Sunday 4th of September, warned that based on the rainfall distribution and amounts as recorded across the country last month (August, 2022) Kebbi and Jigawa in the northwest, Borno, Bauchi and Taraba in the North-east, Plateau in North-central and Bayelsa in the South-south are prone to experience flooding in this month of September.
Other states that may also experience flash flood, NiMet, added: include Kano, Adamawa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Oyo and Ekiti.
In a statement signed by its General Manager, Public Relations, Mr. Muntari Ibrahim Yusuf, he reiterated that the possible flooding will occur in states that have experienced high amount of rainfall in July and August.
NiMet, has therefore advised that State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) should intensify adaptative, mitigative and response mechanisms while states that are expected to experience degrees of various flood episodes are advised to begin their awareness campaigns through field extension workers for possible flood activities within the month of September especially those at high risk areas.
NiMet, said: “Based on the rainfall distribution and rainfall amounts recorded in the country during the month of August, 2022, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has warned of possible flooding in some states that have experienced high amount of rainfall in July and August this year.”
According to the Spokesman: “Saturated state of the soil moisture across the country in the month of July and heavy rainfall recorded in August may put most places to experience varying degrees of flooding activities ranging from high, medium, low and flash flood for the month of September.”
“Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kano, Borno, Gombe and Nasarawa states recorded over 300mm, which represent over 40% of Long – term normal of those places in one month.
“Places around the South-western part of the country however recorded less than 200mm as a result of the long dry spell associated with August break over those areas.”
“Places with major river channels may experience probable high risk of flood events due to accumulation of water already on the river channels which may not be able to contain any additional water.”
