NIHSA Issues Flood Alert for 17 Nigerian States

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) issued a flood alert affecting 17 states from July 21 to July 27, 2023, due to rising water levels at the Kei River monitoring station. The alert indicates a medium flood risk, with the likelihood of localized flooding along river channels and floodplains.

NIHSA Director General Umar Moham disclosed that the agency recorded elevated river levels at 16 gauging stations nationwide, placing nearby communities at risk. The states affected include Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

In Bauchi, 1,841 communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities, and eight markets have been identified as vulnerable. The agency recommends that state governments and local authorities activate emergency response plans, including relocating residents and livestock from floodplains to safer locations.

NIHSA also calls for the mobilization of communities for early warning and the clearance of blocked drains and culverts to improve water flow.