The Federal Ministry of the Environment has advised residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Edo State towns including Sabongida Ora and towns in Kaduna, Kano and Benue states to get ready for heavy flooding between now and end of the month.
The Ministry gave the prediction in a statement yesterday. It said the flooding will affect 23 states.
Dr Morohunkeji Oyeleke, the Deputy Director (Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management) of the ministry, identified some areas that could be affected in Kebbi as Argungu, Bungudu, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo and Birni-Kebbi.
Other areas are Keffi and its environs in Nasarawa State, Okigwe in Imo, New-Bussa in Kwara, Sabongida-Ora in Edo, Buruku in Benue and Echara-Onu and its environs in Ebonyi.
Oyeleke also listed Daura, Yelwa, Katsina, Funtua, Jibia, Bakori and Bundawa, all in Katsina State; and Dutse, Gumel, Gwaram, Hadejia, Miga,Mallam Fatori and Ringim, all in Jigawa; as part of the areas.
Besides, the flood-prone areas include Bukuru and Shelleng in Plateau, Gombe and Nafida in Gombe,Damasak, Kukawa, Biu and Briyel in Borno.
Areas which could be affected by the downpour-induced flood include Birnin Gwari, Jemaa, Kachia, Kaduna, Kafanchan, Kapa Madaki, Shanga, Zaria, Kauru and Shanga in Kaduna State; and Bebeji, Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Sumaila, Tudun-Wada and Wudi in Kano State.
Oyeleke identified Azare, Bajoga, Darazo, Yelwa, Jamaare, Itas, Katagum, Kirfi and Misau as areas that could be affected in Bauchi State, while Mutum-Biyu, Lau, Gembu and Beli in Taraba; Bida, Rijau, Sarki Pawa, Jebba and Kotangora in Niger could also be affected.
Other areas are Kaura-Namoda, Maru, Maradun, Gusau, Bukwium in Zamfara; Damaturu, Machina, Gashua, Dapchi, Putiskum, Kanama in Yobe; Yorro, Yola, Song, Numan, Mubi, Mayo-Belwa, Jimeta, Gainye and Demsa in Adamawa.
Gada, Goronyo, Gummi, Isa, Makira, Kargiwa, Shagari, Silame, Sokoto and Wamakko in Sokoto State, as well as Eleyele, Challenge, Moniya, Bodija, Odo-ona, all in Ibadan, Oyo State, could also be affected.
Oyeleke appealed to the governments of the identified states to take all the necessary precautionary measures to avoid flood disasters, adding that similar warnings in the past had saved the people’s lives and properties.
She said that the ministry had been receiving verbal reports from various state governments on how the weather forecasts had been helpful in efforts to initiate proactive measures to prevent loss of lives and properties.
Oyeleke said an alert had been sent to some areas which were likely to experience windstorm during the rainy season.
She, however, said any change in the prediction would be promptly announced because weather forecasting is based on probability
Red Alert!