In anticipation of the annual flooding exacerbated by climate change, the Nigerian government has initiated its national response plan, putting several hotspot states on high alert, government officials revealed to The Associated Press on Thursday.
In the aftermath of last year’s floods, which tragically claimed over 600 lives, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is now preparing for a predicted recurrence of the dangerous deluge. NEMA has appealed to the country’s air force for aerial support and activated its offices countrywide for rapid response, explained spokesman Manzo Ezekiel.
“The flood prognosis remains rather bleak, but we are doing our utmost to raise awareness and ensure relevant agencies are ready to act,” stated Ezekiel.
Every year, the West African country endures fatal floods, often due to ignored environmental regulations and subpar infrastructure. Last year, however, an abnormal level of rainfall and the release of excess water from a dam in neighbouring Cameroon intensified the floods, leading to record fatalities and destruction of more than 340,000 hectares (about 840,158 acres) of land across 33 of Nigeria’s 36 states and the capital city.
According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, human activities, like construction on waterways, coupled with extreme weather conditions are expected to lead to flooding in various states, albeit with less rainfall than the previous year.
“We’ve been witnessing abnormal weather events like atypical rainfall and unusual heat due to climate change,” commented Ibrahim Wasiu, head of the meteorological agency’s forecasting unit. “Climate change definitely plays a role.”
The Federal Ministry of Environment’s recent alert warns that as many as 14 states are at risk of flooding in the coming days. It advises these states to take preventative measures to avert loss of lives.
This year, several states, including the capital, Abuja, have already suffered from flooding where consecutive days of heavy rain have resulted in the loss of numerous homes and blocked major roads, leading authorities to earmark hundreds of houses for demolition.
“The most crucial thing is ensuring the safety of our people,” stressed Ezekiel from NEMA. “Our primary aim is to minimise as far as possible the impact of the floods on the populace.”
On Wednesday, NEMA issued a warning that between July 4 and 8, heavy rainfall may lead to flooding across 14 states and 31 communities. Ibrahim Farinloye, the Coordinator for NEMA’s Lagos Territorial Office, called for appropriate stakeholders within the affected states to take necessary precautions to mitigate the loss of lives and property.
The states and communities at risk include Plateau, Kano, Sokoto, Delta, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Borno, Jigawa, Kwara, and Niger.
Farinloye expressed gratitude to the Flood Early Warning System, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja, for sharing vital information.
Image Credit: AP Photo/AP
