- Minister Utsev warns of severe flooding risk in 148 local government areas across 31 states in Nigeria in 2024
- Utsev emphasizes proactive measures, early warning systems, and community engagement to mitigate potential flood impacts and minimize damage
Professor Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, has issued a cautionary statement revealing that 148 local government areas across 31 states are at high risk of severe flooding in 2024.
Utsev issued this warning during Monday’s official unveiling of the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) in Abuja. This year’s AFO theme is “Promoting the Use of Data Analytics and Modeling for Flood Risk Assessments and Food Security.”
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) leads the yearly predictions for AFO.
The identified states include Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Kogi, among others.
Utsev stressed the importance of proactive measures to mitigate potential flood impacts in these areas, emphasizing preparedness, early warning systems, and community engagement to minimize damage to lives and property.
He highlighted that the high flood-risk areas span from April to November 2024, and they could impact the population, agriculture, livelihoods, livestock, infrastructure, and the environment.
Prof. Charles Anosike, Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), underscored the partnership between NIHSA and NIMET in enhancing the nation’s disaster preparedness.
Zubaida Umar, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), emphasized the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the impact of flooding across the country.
Clement Nze, Director-General of NIHSA, stressed the essential role of encouraging collaboration among disaster risk managers, earth observers, mission makers, and other stakeholders to enhance preparedness and flood control measures.