The Federal Ministry of Water Resources, has identified 32 states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as highly probable flood-risk areas in 2023.
The Minister, Mr. Suleiman Adamu, also advised the 178 local government areas that are estimated to be affected in the 32 states and the FCT to be on alert.
Adamu said that the forecasts for the 2023 AFO, showed that 178 LGAs in 32 states of the Federation, and the FCT, fall within the Highly Probable Flood Risk Areas, and 224 LGAs in 35 States of the Federation, including the FCT, fall within the Moderately Probable Flood Risk Areas.
Meanwhile, the remaining 402 LGAs fall within the Probable Flood Risk Areas.
“The Highly Probable Flood Risk States are Adamawa, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.
Adamu said the level of floods in highly probable flood-risk States, is expected to be high in terms of impact on the population, agriculture, livelihood, livestock, Infrastructure, and the environment, between April and November.
“Part of 66 LGAs across the country fall within the Highly Probable Risk areas in the months of April, May, and June, while part of 148 LGAs in the months of July, August, and September, while part of 100 LGAs in the months of October and November 2023.
“The details of the LGAs and their corresponding states are contained in our publication.
“The moderate impact level of floods is expected in parts of 41 LGAs within the months of April, May, and June, and in parts of 199 LGAS within the months of July, August, and September, and in parts of 73 LGAs within the months of October and November 2023,” he added.
He noted that Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo, would be experiencing coastal flooding, due to a rise in sea level and tidal surge, which would impact fishing, wildlife habitation, and river navigation.
“The flash and urban flood will be experienced in urban cities centers across cities of Lagos, Kaduna, Suleja, Gombe, Yola, Makurdi, Abuja, Lafia, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Benin City, Bimin- Kebbi, Sokoto, Lakoja, Maiduguri, Kano, Oshogbo, Ado-Ekiti, Abakaliki, Awka, Nsukka, Calabar, Owerri, ” he said.
