*Pix above: Flooding
The Federal Government has issued a warning on the likelihood of severe river flooding impacting 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) starting from the end of July.
This forecast is part of the government’s ongoing assessment and response to the natural disaster risks exacerbated by climate conditions.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, highlighted the additional health risks posed by the expected floods, particularly pointing to the cholera outbreak that has already claimed 63 lives with 2,102 suspected cases reported by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
He emphasized that the upcoming river floods could worsen the cholera situation due to the contamination of water sources.
According to Minister Utsev, what the country has witnessed since May are instances of flash and urban flooding caused by high rainfall intensities, and inadequate and clogged drainage systems in city areas.
However, he noted that from late July, the pattern might shift to more destructive river flooding.
“Given our geographical position at the lowest portion of the River Niger Basin, once the upper catchment areas experience flooding, Nigeria should brace for significant flooding incidents,” Utsev explained.
He also reassured that the current situation at the Wuroboki monitoring station, downstream of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, is stable, though the dam is presently being filled for hydropower generation.
“We are in the final stages of implementing plans to construct buffer dams along the water channel to manage water flow from Lagdo Dam. The designs are complete and we are nearing the implementation phase,” stated Utsev.
Addressing the cholera crisis, the minister highlighted the establishment of a presidential committee tasked with tackling the outbreak. The committee is also focusing on addressing the issue of open defecation, which significantly contributes to the spread of cholera.
Minister Utsev called on state and local governments, along with other stakeholders and the general public, to adopt preventative measures to mitigate the effects of flooding.
“It is crucial for everyone to engage actively in flood prevention practices to avoid the devastating impacts witnessed in past years,” he urged.
He listed states at high risk to include: Akwa Ibom; Anambra; Benue; Bayelsa; Cross River; Delta; Edo; Jigawa; Kogi; Kebbi; Kaduna; Niger; Nasarawa; Ondo; Ogun; Rivers; Taraba; and FCT.
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This warning comes after business and commercial activities were grounded on Wednesday following a 10-hour downpour in many parts of Lagos state.
The resulting flooding brought down a two-storey building in the Mushin area of Lagos, grounded vehicular movement on the roads and overwhelmed thousands of residents, while pupils could not attend schools in parts of the state.
Though the Lagos State government said the rain lasted for nine hours, in some parts of the state, it started at midnight and did not subside until noon, making it 12 hours.
Such places include Berger, Ikeja, Ogba and in some parts, the rain lasted for 10 hours.
The heavy showers, which began around 12midnight, were blamed for the collapse of a two-storey building on Cameroon Road in the Mushin area of Lagos, injuring seven people.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that the seven victims were rescued alive from the collapsed structure.
He attributed the collapse of the newly constructed building to the inclement weather.
He said, “Early this morning, seven people were rescued alive from a building in Ewenla, Mushin, that collapsed in the inclement weather.
“Upon arrival of the LRT at the scene of the incident, it was discovered that a newly constructed two-storey building had collapsed. Three females and four males were rescued alive and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“The agency’s search-and-rescue team had searched the rubbles and can confirm that there is no victim underneath the collapsed building. The area has been cordoned off, and operations are still ongoing,” he confirmed.###
