By ABAH SUNDAY, Abuja
Against the backdrop of the rent announcement by the federal government regarding the prediction of flooding in 31 states across Nigeria in 2024, Dr Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, an environmental advocate and management staff of Richflood International, an environmental sustainability firm, has called for proactive action to effectively tame the menace.
The forecast, which highlights the high flood-risk areas and the expected impact on communities, agriculture, and infrastructure, underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the looming disaster.
Dr Asokoro-Ogaji therefore emphasised the critical importance of swift and decisive action to safeguard lives and property in the affected regions.
“The federal government’s warning serves as a wake-up call for all stakeholders to prioritise preparedness and resilience-building efforts,” said Asokoro-Ogaji.
According to the forecast, the high flood-risk states include Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe.
Dr Asokoro-Ogaji highlighted the seasonal outlook, noting that the high flood-risk areas are expected to experience significant flooding between April and November 2024. This flooding is anticipated to have severe impacts on population, agriculture, livelihoods, livestock, infrastructure, and the environment.
Additionally, Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji pointed out that 72 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the country fall within the high flood-risk areas between April and June, while 135 LGAs are at risk between July and September, and 44 LGAs are at risk between October and November 2024.
For areas categorised under moderate flood risk, she disclosed that those regions would witness moderate flooding between April and November 2024. This moderate impact level flooding is expected to affect parts of 63 LGAs between April and June, parts of 221 LGAs between July and September, and parts of 100 LGAs between October and November 2024.
The environmental champion urged all levels of government, as well as relevant stakeholders, to collaborate and take proactive measures to mitigate the potential impact of flooding in the identified high-risk areas.
“We must act swiftly and decisively to protect our communities and build resilience against the looming threat of floods,” she stressed.