Massive flooding from the Rivers Niger and Benue might reach 14 states of the nation, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Together with the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, NEMA issued the notice and named the following states: Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger Delta, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers, and Bayelsa.
The Director-General of NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, addressed the media during an emergency technical meeting on the flooding situation in Nigeria and urged the governments of the frontline states to move communities at risk.
He said, “Based on our communication with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Lagdo dam operators in the Republic of Cameroun have commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir by 13th September, 2022.
“We are aware that the released water cascades down to Nigeria through River Benue and its tributaries thereby inundating communities that have already been impacted by heavy precipitation.
“The released water complicates the situation further downstream as Nigeria’s inland reservoirs including Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro are also expected to overflow between now and October ending according to NIHSA. According to NIHSA, Kainji and Jebba dams have already started spilling exess water from their reservoirs.
