The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation says 148 local government areas across 31 states face a significant risk of flooding this year, while an additional 249 LGAs in 36 states, including Osun, fall under a moderate flood risk category.
Coordinating Minister of the Ministry, Professor Joseph Utsev while making a public presentation of 2024 flood outlook in Abuja, identified the high-risk states as Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo and Imo.
Other states are; Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe.
Prof Utsev emphasised that coastal flooding is expected in Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo due to rising sea levels, stating that urban cities nationwide are likely to experience flash and urban floods.
While underscoring the urgency of the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) publication, the minister said state governors had been alerted about the anticipated flooding in their areas and appealed to them as well as other stakeholders to heed the information provided in the AFO and take prompt action to mitigate the impact of potential flooding.
Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, commended the efforts made so far in raising awareness about flood preparedness and urged for future publications to include preparations for drought.
Director General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Clement Nze, emphasised the importance of flood risk awareness in reducing its effects.
Zubaida Umar, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), highlighted the severe consequences of flooding and called for proactive measures to mitigate its impact nationwide.
