FG Warns of Impending Flooding on Rivers Niger, Benue

The Federal Government has warned of potential river flooding on the Rivers Niger and Benue, stating that a large volume of water is flowing through these rivers towards the Niger Delta region.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, made this known in Abuja on Friday at a press briefing regarding the flooding situation in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Utsev emphasized the need for continued vigilance and improved preparedness to address potential flooding in the southern part of the country.

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He noted that the recent flood disaster that affected the Maiduguri and Jere areas of Borno State was largely due to the overflow of water from the Alau Dam, located about 10 kilometres from Maiduguri city centre, resulting from a massive inflow from the Ngadda River, a major tributary of the River Yedzaram.

The minister referred to the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook publication by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, which highlighted the high, moderate, and low flood risk areas in the country. Borno, Bauchi, Jigawa, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Gombe, and many other states were listed among the 31 states considered high flood risk areas.

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Utsev called for proactive measures to address potential flooding in the southern part of the country, stating that the daily flow on the Rivers Niger and Benue indicates a significant increase in water levels, nearing red alert.

He emphasized the need for responsible agencies, governments at the sub-national level, and stakeholders to heed the flood early warning information from the Ministry and take proactive measures to prevent future flooding.