10 States Risk Flooding In 2015 Rainy Season - NIHSA Reveals

Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency[NIHSA] on Wednesday, June 24, revealed the high possibility of 10 States across the federation being submerged by flood during the 2015 rainy season.

Director General of NIHSA, Moses Beckley, who disclosed this in Abuja during the presentation of 2015 Annual Flood Outlook, said that the expected areas for river flooding are located in Sokoto-Rima, Niger, Benue and Anambra States.

Beckley said coastal flooding resulting from sea level rise and tidal surges are likely to occur in States like Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Lagos as well as flash flood which would likely occur in some urban areas such as Lagos,  Port-Harcourt, Sokoto, Birnin Kebbi and Ibadan.

To this end, he called on Nigerians especially those living in flood prone areas to prepare for the mitigation of any flood, in order to reduce the risks and losses often associated with flooding.

It will be recalled that in 2012, 30 of the 36 States in Nigeria were affected by heavy floods which reportedly killed about 363 people and displacing  over 2.1million people. Termed as the worst flood to hit the country in 40years, an estimated 7million people were affected and damages and losses to the tune of N2.6 trillion was incured.