Federal Government has warned of possible flooding in 19 states over the next five days, from August 5 to 9, following forecasts of heavy rainfall.
Gatekeepers News reports that National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre, under the Federal Ministry of Environment, issued the alert on Tuesday, urging residents and relevant authorities to take immediate precautionary measures.
According to the forecast, the expected downpour could trigger flash and riverine flooding in parts of Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Cross River, Nasarawa, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kano, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, and Gombe states.
Communities at risk include Eket, Oron, Tafawa-Balewa, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Keana, Gboko, Zaria, Daura, Birnin-Kebbi, Gwandu, Wudil, Kontagora, Mangu, Takum, Gumel, Potiskum, Anka, and Bajoga.
This warning comes shortly after recent floods affected parts of Lagos, Ogun, Plateau, Gombe, and Delta states.
National Economic Council (NEC) had last week approved intervention funds for flood response.
It allocated ₦3 billion each to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ₦1.5 billion each to the ministries of budget and national planning, environment, and water resources and sanitation, and ₦10 billion to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
