The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has warned communities along the Rivers Benue and Niger of imminent flooding following rise in water levels due to continuous rainfall.
NIHSA’s Director General, Umar Mohammed, has urged residents near the riverbanks to evacuate immediately, as water levels in the River Benue are reaching critical points.
According to Mohammed, water gauge data from key stations such as Lokoja, Umaisha, Makurdi, and Ibbi showed consistently high levels, have exceeded nine meters between October 9 and October 15.
“The map shows critical flood-prone zones across Nigeria, particularly around stations along the River Benue and River Niger,” Mohammed warned. “Makurdi, in particular, has recorded dangerously high water levels, with Lokoja and other stations also nearing flood thresholds.“
The management of the Kainji and Jebba dams is closely monitoring and controlling water releases to prevent downstream flooding along the Niger. Even at that, Mohammed calls for full readiness by emergency response agencies. He advised citizens to move to safer areas to avoid the worsening effects of the floods as rainfall continues.
This warning follows a trend of devastating floods in Nigeria. In 2022, 665 people died, 2 million were displaced, and 4 million others were impacted in some way due to flooding. In 2023, floods affected 159,157 individuals, caused the loss of 28 lives, and displaced 48,168.
The release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and the overflowing Alau Dam in September led to the flooding of Maiduguri, Borno State, which killed over 30 persons and swept away thousands of homes.
As of October 15, flooding has affected over a million people, displaced 625,239 people, and killed 259 people in Nigeria this year alone.
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