The states include Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi,
Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,
Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Kogi.
Others are Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun,
Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe.
“The 2024 Annual Flood Outlook shows that part of 148 Local
Government Areas in 31 states of the federation fall within the high flood-risk
areas, while part of 249 LGAs in 36 states of the federation and the FCT fall
within the moderate flood-risk areas,” Utsev said.
“The high flood-risk
states are Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross
River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi,
Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto,
Taraba, Yobe.”
The minister added that flash floods will be experienced in
urban centres across the country.
“The level of floods in this category is expected to be high
in terms of impact on the population, agriculture, livelihoods, livestock and
infrastructure, and the environment,” he added.
“Part of 72 LGAs across the country fall within the high
flood-risk areas in April, May, and June; while part of 135 LGAs in July,
August, and September; and part of 44 LGAs in October and November 2024 are
within the high flood-risk zones.
“Moderate impact
level floods are expected in parts of 63 LGAs within April, May, and June; and
in parts of 221 LGAs within July, August, and September; and parts of 100 LGAs
within October and November 2024.
“Among these are Abakaliki, Abeokuta, Abuja, Asaba, Benin
City, Birnin-Kebbi, Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Nguru,
Onitsha, Oshogbo, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Warri and Yola.”
Utsev said states like Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos,
Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo will experience coastal flooding due to the rise in sea
levels and tidal surge.
He said this will impact fishing, wildlife habitation, and
river navigation.
“To give the 2024
Annual Flood Outlook publication the urgency it deserves, I have notified all
the state governors on the level of flooding to expect in their respective
states,” he said.
“Letters and AFO publications (with maps) have been
dispatched to the governors while the exact LGAs to be affected in each state
and the expected level of the flood are detailed accordingly.
“I, therefore, appeal
to the state governors to give the information in AFO the attention it requires
and to act swiftly to contain effects of any flooding incidence to forestall
any chaotic situation.”
