Hydrological agency alerts of imminent floods

.74 LGAs at grave risk

.279 LGAs in medium scale risk
.421 in less danger

NIGERIANS have been urged to brace up for an imminent flooding that may sweep across many parts of the country as the rains intensify.
Director General of Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr. Clement Nze, gave the warning  yesterday while briefing newsmen in Abuja, calling on households to be on the alert against flooding spate that may come in the weeks and months ahead.
Nze said that people should take the warning very serious because rivers are daily overflowing their banks even when 2019 rain season is yet to reach its peak.
According to him, the agency is placing people on red alert for them to take every precautionary measure, including evacuating from flood prone areas and clearing waterways and drainage, to avert preventable disasters.
“The localised urban flooding incidents being witnessed in some cities and communities in the country are expected to continue. The flooding incidents are due to high rainfall intensity of long duration, rainstorms, blockage of drainage system and poor urban planning resulting in erection of structures within the floodplains and waterways. River flooding as well as coastal flooding is expected to come as the nation approaches the peak of rainy season. Therefore, states and local governments should endeavour to remove structures built within the floodplains, clear blocked drainage, culverts and other waterways,” he said.
Nze said that the agency was closely monitoring the tides to respond effectively during any emergency that will trigger loss of lives and property, adding that out of 774 local government areas in Nigeria, 74 stands at ultra-risk probability while 279 stands in medium scale risk of severe flooding with only 421 less probable.