An announcement from the Federal Government revealed that 148 local government areas across 31 states in Nigeria are deemed to be at a heightened risk of flooding from April to November in 2024.
The revelation was made in a press release by Funmi Imuetinyan, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
During the launch event for the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook with the theme “Promoting the use of Data Analytics and Modeling for Flood Risk Assessments and Food Security” in Abuja, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, highlighted this information.
The identified areas include regions in states such as Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, and Kano, among others.
The urgent importance of the Annual Flood Outlook in mitigating the severe consequences of floods was stressed, with a focus on its alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Agenda on food security and poverty reduction.
According to the AFO report, a total of 148 local government areas across 31 states in Nigeria are categorized as high flood risk areas for the year 2024, with vulnerabilities between April and November.
These areas are susceptible to significant flood impacts on population, agriculture, livelihoods, infrastructure, and the environment. The report forecasts moderate impact level floods in 249 LGAs across 36 states and the FCT, with specific timeframes for potential flooding in various LGAs.
Urban centers nationwide, including Abakaliki, Abeokuta, Abuja, Lagos, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin-Kebbi, and others, are expected to be affected by flash and urban flooding.
The Minister called upon state governors to swiftly address the information outlined in the 2024 AFO, emphasizing the necessity for cooperation among policymakers, government departments, and agencies to effectively mitigate flood risks.