FG issues fresh flood alerts, says Jebba dam is currently spilling excess water

The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a fresh warning to citizens regarding flooding in the country.

A statement by the Director General Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, informed that Jebba Dam is currently spilling excess water as regulated by Kainji Dam operators, who had kept a 53cm buffer until now to allow for any change in inflow.

“NIHSA through the Director Operational Hydrology Pastor Femi Bejide, is working in close contact with the operators of Kainji and Jebba Dams on the management of the reservoirs”

“The rain is gradually shifting to the south, however, there is still some amount of water coming into Nigeria as monitored from our station at Jidere Bode and Kende” he emphasised.

Highlighting the agency’s synergy with the authorities of the Dams both nationally and internationally, he maintained that NIHSA is committed to managing great River flooding incidences to foster socio-economic growth in Nigeria.

Mohammed also revealed that the water level in the River Niger Basin has slowly receded since the beginning of October.

He called on Nigerians to continue to adhere to flood preparedness protocols, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to the overall flood management in Nigeria.

The warning comes following recent reports on the worst flooding incidents in the history of Nigeria, with the capital of Borno State, Maiduguri taking the lead.

The NIHSA’s 2024 Annual Flood Outlook reveals that 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 31 states are at high risk of flooding.

The affected states include Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Kebbi.