The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a flood advisory, warning that 14 states could experience a medium flood risk between July 14 and July 20.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Director-General of NIHSA, Mr Umar Mohammed, said the advisory was based on the agency’s latest hydrological forecast, which predicts localised flooding along major river channels and identifies 16 monitoring stations as high-risk locations.
The affected states include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau.
According to NIHSA, several local government areas and communities, as well as schools, health facilities and markets, could be impacted if adequate precautionary measures are not taken.
Mohammed explained that the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) provides flood predictions and analyses of possible flood scenarios across the country during the rainy season.
He said the forecast was issued to enhance disaster preparedness, improve response planning and support risk reduction efforts by governments and relevant agencies.
The Director-General called on state governments, emergency management agencies and communities to reinforce early warning systems, strengthen evacuation plans and intensify public awareness campaigns.
He identified Saminaka on the Karam River, the Waya Dam site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River as some of the key locations along the projected flood path.
Mohammed advised residents of flood-prone communities to move to safer locations, clear blocked drainage channels, avoid driving or walking through flooded roads and keep track of NIHSA’s flood forecasts for updates.
He also called on emergency management agencies to pre-position relief materials and activate community-based early warning systems to reduce the impact of potential flooding.