The River Benue’s water level has risen to the point of flooding as a result of more rainfall, according to NIHSA Director General Umar Mohammed.
Nigerians residing near riverbanks along the River Benue Basin have been advised by the Federal Government, acting through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), to relocate as soon as possible to safer territory.
This aerial view shows houses submerged under water in Maiduguri on September 10, 2024. (Photo by Audu MARTE / AFP)
Umar Mohammed, the director general of NIHSA, issued a warning in a statement on Thursday, stating that the increased rainfall has caused the water in the River Benue to reach the flooding level.In addition, he asked people living near the River Niger to evacuate to a safe area while efforts are being made to control the floodwaters by the management of the Kainji and Jebba Dams.
In order to increase Nigerians’ resilience to flooding and lessen its effects, the head of NIHSA urged citizens to collaborate with emergency management organisations.
Following the water release from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, the government recently issued a warning to Nigerians to relocate to safe ground.
This happened after water from the overflowing Alau Dam was released, which resulted in the deaths of over 30 people and the destruction of thousands of homes in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.According to data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), flooding devastated numerous states in 2022, taking 665 lives, uprooting 2,437,411 people, and affecting 4,476,867 people.
Devastating floods in 2023 left 48,168 people without a place to live, 159,157 people affected, and 28 people dead. A portion of the flooding incidents were caused by the Lagdo Dam’s water release.According to NEMA, flooding in 2024 killed 259 people, displaced 625,239 people, and affected 1,048,312 people between April and September of that year.