Agency Pledges Continous Monitoring Of Water Level In Rivers
The Director General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, Mr Clement Nze, has pledged continuous monitoring of water levels in rivers across the country to forestall possible flood emergencies.
Nze said that this was necessary to prevent disasters and emergency situations that could occur from excessive rainfall. Reports
The agency had predicted in its 2023 Annual Flood Outlook, AFO, that 178 Local Government Areas in 32 States and the capital territory fall within the “Highly Probable Flood Risks Areas.”
Also, there are possible apprehensions that many states may be affected by the decision of the Cameroonian government to release excess water from its Lagdo dam.
Every year, neighbouring Cameroon which runs along the length of Nigeria’s eastern border, releases water from a dam in northern Cameroon, causing flooding downstream in Nigeria.
“We maintain close watch on all of the rivers, and we are getting into the peak of the rainy season, there are many rivers within the Benue tributaries that could cause flooding whether Cameroon releases water into Nigeria or not.
“Most of those rivers are not dammed, apart from Katsina-Ala river where we have kashimbilla dam, it contributes to 26 percent of River Benue, If the rainfall intensifies more and which we are monitoring, there could be flooding from that axis.”
The director general said states should complement the Federal Government’s efforts by sensitising their populace on flood disaster prevention, saying FG can not do it alone.
“States should follow the Federal Government to sensitise their people. They already know the flashpoints.
“The state emergency management agencies know the locations. When they need to relocate people, they should do so on time.
“Flood issues occur in the communities, and the states are to take responsibility for it, they should take more action, to sensitise and relocate their people to safer grounds.
“They should augment the relief materials that NEMA is providing so as to give succour to the people, they should be on standby in all those flood flashpoints.”
Nze recalled that after the 2012 flood incidents, the FG constituted the Presidential Committee for Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, PCFRR, to raise funds and provide succour to flood victims.
Flood Hostels
He said many states had flood hostels functioning, saying states were duty bound to support the committees’ effort to cushion the immediate effects of flooding and recovery of affected persons.
According to him, the Committee, co-chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN, had monies donated from individuals and corporate entities to the tune of N12 billion.
He said the committee had been urging the states to take over these facilities for the people, and not only for flood emergencies.
“There are some states that are very critical in terms of flooding, this committee built hostels and well equipped clinics, water facilities, basic amenities, Drugs are donated, light, kitchen, clinics etc are available to provide temporal relief in times of emergencies.
“Many states delay in keying into these interventions, You can’t expect the federal government to do everything, where there are states and local governments available.
“States should be able to take over and run it tor the benefit of the people in states and not during flood emergencies alone.”
While commending the National Emergency Management Agency for giving succour to flood victims, Nze urged Nigerians living in flood-prone areas to be watchful and move to higher ground.
On Cameroon’s release of excess water from its Dam, Nze said the country didn’t enter into any legal agreements to notify or not, saying non-release of the dam’s excess water would be more dangerous to Nigeria.
He added that there was no cause for alarm, as no immediate threat to the country, even as the dam was opened since August 14, spilling water at the rate of about 20 million cubic metres per day — about 200 metres per second.
NAN reports that 32 states and the FCT, which are within the Highly Probable Flood Risks Areas include; Adamawa, Abia, Akwa- Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross- River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo.
Others are; Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, as well as Zamfara and the FCT.
NAN/ Shakirat Sadiq
