THE Niger Basin Authority with headquarters in Niamey, Niger Republic has warned of imminent flooding in Nigeria in its latest alert level.
It warned people on the river banks in Niger, Kwara and Kogi as well as those people in the flood plains and river banks to prepare for more flooding.
The NBA is a regional body of nine-member countries in the West and Central Africa, namely: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad.
The regional body said it noticed progressive increase in water level of the River Niger at 580 cm, which culminated in its Yellow alert. It was issued on September 7.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) urged Federal and state governments to prepare sites for a possible flood situation in a situation of orange alert.
The statement reads: “Since September 1, 2017, a yellow alert on water level was reached at the hydrometric station of Niamey. This yellow alert lasted seven days until September 7, with a progressive increase of water level until reaching the yellow level limit of 580 cm.
“The Orange alert level is reached on September 7, 2017. Forecasts and gages reading from upstream Niamey show that this orange alert situation will last the next three days.
“It should be noted that at this orange alert level, any progressive increase of water levels could have significant impacts on people and property in areas of flood risk.
“In this situation of orange alert, it is more suggested to prepare sites for a possible flood situation.”
It added: “The rise of water level at Niamey will propagate downstream toward Malanville station in Republic of Benin and the station of Jidere Bode upstream Kainji Dam in Federal Republic of Nigeria. Riparian people should be particularly vigilant, especially those living in areas at flood risk.”
The statement said the agency would continue to monitor the situation and provide information as it develops.
NBA Director-General Moses Beckley said Nigeria should expect more floods of the magnitude comparable to that of 2012 flood.
He said the flood alert level issued by the NBA was above normal, which Nigeria should be wary of.
Beckley said the agency expects the water to have entered Nigeria through River Niger three days after the alert was issued.
“It is above normal (yellow alert). The consequence of that is that there will be more flow into the Nigeria area through the River Niger. Since Nigeria is low land, the effect is that as that water comes expect the water to have arrived Nigeria from three days after the alert.
“The Jebba and Kainji dams, which were constructed for this same purpose to control the flow of water from upstream, especially water coming from outside, have been so properly manage. I want to believe have been so, that they will be able to contain that water, they will be able to release this water that it will not cause devastation downstream.”
But Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu has directed the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to relocate 100 households affected by flooding in Dole-Kaina Area of Dandi Local Government to a safer place.
Bagudu gave this directive in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Alhaji Abubakar Dakingari, in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
He directed the agency to provide the victims with food items, potable water, drugs and mattresses as well as to resettle them in a virgin land.
