‘Jebba Dam is currently spilling excess water’, FG issues fresh alert on flood

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The Federal Government has issued a new warning to Nigeria concerning potential flooding across the country.

In a statement, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, the Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), announced that the Jebba Dam is currently releasing excess water as regulated by the operators of Kainji Dam, who have maintained a 53 cm buffer to accommodate any changes in inflow.

“NIHSA through the Director Operational Hydrology Pastor Femi Bejide, is working in close contact with the operators of Kainji and Jebba Dams on the management of the reservoirs”

“The rain is gradually shifting to the south, however, there is still some amount of water coming into Nigeria as monitored from our station at Jidere Bode and Kende” he emphasised.

Emphasizing the agency’s collaboration with both national and international dam authorities, he reiterated that NIHSA is dedicated to managing significant river flooding incidents to promote socio-economic development in Nigeria.

Mohammed also noted that the water level in the River Niger Basin has gradually decreased since the start of October.

He urged Nigerians to continue following flood preparedness protocols, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to comprehensive flood management in the country.

This warning follows recent reports of the worst flooding incidents in Nigeria’s history, with Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, being the most affected.