The Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Mohammed, issued a warning on Thursday that water levels along the River Benue have reached dangerous flooding thresholds due to continuous heavy rainfall. Mohammed also cautioned residents along the River Niger to consider relocating as the Kainji and Jebba Dams’ management works to regulate the rising floodwaters.
Mohammed urged communities to cooperate with emergency management agencies to improve flood resilience and reduce flood-related damage. This follows a recent advisory from the government urging Nigerians to move to safer areas following water releases from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, a move that previously led to severe flooding. Recently, water release from the overflowing Alau Dam resulted in over 30 fatalities and displaced thousands in Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital.
Data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) revealed that past floods in Nigeria have had catastrophic impacts: in 2022, floods claimed 665 lives, displaced over 2.4 million, and affected 4.5 million people. In 2023, 159,157 people were affected, with 28 lives lost and 48,168 displaced. In the current year, between April and September 2024, floods have already affected 1,048,312 people,
displaced 625,239, and resulted in 259 fatalities.
The NIHSA calls on Nigerians, especially those in vulnerable areas, to heed safety warnings to mitigate the impact of these ongoing and severe flood threats.
