NIHSA Identifies Areas to be Flooded in 2013

A new annual flood outlook for Nigeria prepared by the Nigeria hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) has identified 156 local government areas in 31 states of the federation as areas likely to be most affected by flood this year.

The outlook which arrived at the prediction based on the rainfall pattern released by the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) and a detailed analysis of the country’s  underground water as well as the trans boundary rivers noted that the worst case scenarios were expected in Kogi, Edo, Delta and Anambra states.

Mr John Ayo Shamonda, Director General of NIHSA said while presenting the outlook that Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, Ogun, and Lagos would be experiencing coastal flooding.

Shamonda said that Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Yola, Oshogbo, and Ibadan would experience flash flooding except where drainages may have been cleared of debris and waste dumps.

He stressed the need to carry out a comprehensive flood hazard map for all areas considered at risk of flooding in the country.

Commenting on the Outlook, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources said that it was a flood risk management element which entails multidisciplinary contributions to promote preventive and responsible strategies in mitigating impacts of flood through informed decision by relevant agencies.

 “The challenge is to incorporate risk management principles in water resources management, prevent flood hazards turning into disasters, increase multidisciplinary approaches in flood management, and improve information on integrated flood management approaches,” she said.

She said that all hands must be on deck to avert a repeat of the 2012 flood which caught the nations unawares.

 “The 2012 flood disaster has provided us an opportunity to critically examine our actions and preparedness for any such hydrological extremes. Any flood coming after 2012 should not catch us unawares or be allowed to unleash the same amount of devastations as experienced last year,” she added.

culled from Dailytrust