· Administration alerts residents
· Warns of cholera spread
By Sarah NEGEDU
A number of communities in Garki and Wuse Districts of the Federal Capital Territory have been placed on red alert over the possibility of flooding.
A recent forecast by the National Flood Early Warning Systems, FEWS, Centre, predicts that communities in Gwagwalada environs, as well as others in Garki I & II, Wuse I & II Districts in the Federal Capital City are likely to witness heavy downpour that may lead to flood between 11 and 15 July, 2024.
The forecast released by the Federal Ministry of Environment agency also predicted that neighboring states to the FCT, including Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi and Kaduna may likely experience heavy rainfall and possible flooding, too.
Though the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook predicted that the Federal Capital Territory and 35 state were within moderate flood risk areas, the city is already experiencing flooding in some areas, with the latest being at the Trademore Estate, Lugbe.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, had penultimate week, disclosed that 21 additional states nay likely suffer flooding.
This is as 10 states and the FCT, had either experienced various degrees of flooding or recorded casualties as rains intensified.
Utsev, who spoke on the backdrop of the recent heavy downpour across the country, warned that cholera may spread further in Nigeria due to the flooding.
He further stated that river flooding would begin this month, and would hit Ondo, Kaduna, Anambra, Benue, Adamawa and 12 other states.
According to him, out of the 31 states where the Annual Flood Outlook predicted would experience flooding, the incident had occurred in 10.
Providing a national update on flooding, Utsev said, “It should be noted that some states have started experiencing varying levels of flooding and its associated disasters as early as April this year.
“So far, more than 10 states of the federation and the FCT have experienced one degree of flooding or the other with several casualties recorded including displacement of people and loss of property.
“For example, the torrential downpour in the early hours of June 24, 2024, in the FCT resulted in flooding of Trade More Estate in Lugbe where two deaths were reported and several houses submerged.’’
He stated, “AMAC (Abuja Municipal Council), Kuje, Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Kwali LGAs (local government areas) have also been flooded. Other affected states and LGAs are Anambra (Onitsha North); Edo (Benin); Benue (Makurdi); Kwara (Oke-Ero, Moro); Lagos (Agege, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Ikeja, Eti-Osa); Ogun (Ijebu-Ode); Osun (Oriade); Nasarawa (Doma); Taraba (Takum, Sarduna); and Yobe.
“It is important to note that as rainfall increases both in frequency and intensity, particularly in the southern part of the country, this will increase the level of flooding and may worsen the ravaging cholera outbreak.”
The minister stated that most of the flood incidents recorded so far were flash/urban floods resulting from high rainfall intensities of long duration and poor and blocked drainage systems in the urban areas and their metropolises.
“As of today, both Kainji and Jebba Dams on River Niger are still impounding water into their reservoirs. Shiroro Dam on the River Kaduna is equally impounding water. There is no release of water yet from any of the dams within and outside Nigeria.
“At this point, it is important to state that river flooding is expected, beginning this month (July 2024). The states that are likely to be impacted by this as predicted are Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Adamawa, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Taraba and the FCT,” Utsev stated.
Following the latest prediction by the Flooding Early Warning Systems, FEWS, Centre the Acting Director-General of the FCT Emergency Management Department, Florence Wenegieme, has alerted divers and the Search and Rescue Team of the department.
The Director-General also notified the Local Emergency Management Council, LEMC, in the six Area Councils of the FCT in case of a possible flash/river flooding.
Wenegieme, appealed to the pedestrian and motoring public not to drive into a pool of water, but to seek alternative routes.
