The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued an urgent flood alert for communities along the Niger and Benue Rivers, specifically warning residents in Kogi, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Niger, Benue, and Adamawa States. As water levels rise, NIHSA urges immediate vigilance and relocation to prevent potential disaster and protect lives and property from seasonal flooding.
Danger Along Major Rivers
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has raised serious concerns about potential flooding in several Nigerian states. The alert comes as hydrological data confirms that water levels along the nation’s two major rivers, the River Niger and the River Benue, continue to rise significantly.
Engr. Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, the Director General of NIHSA, disclosed this warning during a press conference in Abuja. He specifically named Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Niger, Benue, and Adamawa States as being at high risk of experiencing localised flooding in their downstream communities.
Call for Immediate Action and Vigilance
The Director General stressed that the most effective way to prevent the loss of lives and property remains early warning and timely relocation. He strongly advised all residents in these flood-prone areas to remain highly vigilant and to strictly follow the official advisories issued by local authorities.
As the nation’s authority on monitoring water resources, NIHSA’s data is critical for disaster planning. The agency has been upgrading its real-time data collection capacity and early warning systems using satellite imagery and digital modelling to improve the accuracy of its forecasts.
The agency also revealed a related danger: recent water quality assessments conducted during flood evaluations have shown contamination in some shallow wells due to floodwater intrusion. This calls for urgent collaboration among relevant government ministries and humanitarian partners to ensure affected communities have access to safe drinking water.
Looking ahead, NIHSA plans to strengthen its zonal offices and develop a Five-Year Strategic Action Plan focused on innovation and collaboration to make Nigeria more resilient against intensifying climate-related challenges like floods and droughts.
