As Nigeria continues to grapple with the aftermath of devastating floods in Maiduguri, Borno State, and different components of the nation, the Federal Authorities has issued an pressing warning about impending flooding alongside the Niger and Benue rivers.
The Minister of Water Sources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, issued the alert in Abuja on Friday throughout a press briefing on the flooding scenario in Maiduguri.
He warned that a big quantity of water was flowing by way of the rivers right down to the Niger Delta area, stressing the necessity for heightened vigilance and proactive measures, significantly in southern Nigeria, to mitigate the consequences of potential flooding.
Utsev attributed the flood catastrophe in Maiduguri and Jere areas of Borno State to the overflow of water from Alau Dam, situated about 10 kilometres from Maiduguri metropolis centre, due to an enormous influx from Ngadda River, a serious tributary of River Yedzaram.
Based on him, the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook publication by the Nigeria Hydrological Providers Company recognized excessive, reasonable, and low flood-risk areas throughout the nation. Borno, Bauchi, Jigawa, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Gombe, and a number of other others are among the many 31 states listed as high-risk areas.
“This flood catastrophe that affected Maiduguri and Jere areas was largely because of the overflow of water from Alau Dam, situated about 10 kilometres from Maiduguri metropolis centre, owing to large influx from Ngadda River, a serious tributary of River Yedzaram. The Minister of State, Bello Goronyo, and I’ve visited Maiduguri, alongside the heads of businesses and parastatals in my ministry, to precise solidarity with the governor of Borno State and to evaluate the extent of devastation attributable to the flood,” Utsev stated.
He added {that a} staff of technical specialists from the ministry, Nationwide Water Sources Institute, Nigeria Hydrological Providers Company, and the Chad Basin Improvement Authority had been on the bottom to evaluate the scenario at Alau Dam and the extent of the flood catastrophe, with plans to make suggestions based mostly on their findings.
“As we get better from this catastrophe, we should be aware of the potential contamination of our water sources to keep away from additional outbreaks of waterborne and communicable ailments,” the minister warned.
As Nigerians mourned the losses in Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, and different states affected by flooding, Utsev known as for vigilance as river stream ranges on the Niger and Benue rivers had considerably elevated, with indications of a purple alert.
The minister additional urged proactive measures to handle potential flooding in southern Nigeria.
FG blames local weather change
The Federal Authorities attributed the Borno flooding to the consequences of local weather change and extended heavy rainfall. Utsev famous that the Alau Dam didn’t collapse throughout the current flooding, opposite to earlier studies. He reiterated {that a} flood danger warning issued earlier within the 12 months had recognized 31 states, together with Borno, as high-risk areas.
Based on the Nationwide Emergency Administration Company, the flood, which started on Tuesday, has claimed greater than 30 lives and displaced over 400 individuals. Earlier studies had mistakenly attributed the flooding to the collapse of the Alau Dam within the Alau group of the Konduga Native Authorities Space.
In a press release by the Director of Data and Public Relations on the Federal Ministry of Water Sources and Sanitation, Funmi Imuetinyan, Utsev introduced plans for an improve of the Alau Dam.
“We’re dedicated to an intensive overhaul of this essential infrastructure. The Alau Dam improve is non-negotiable, and any poor efficiency by contractors or officers concerned is not going to go unpunished. Sanctions shall be enforced for any delays or substandard work,” he stated.
The dam, constructed in 1986, has a most storage capability of 112 million cubic metres and was designed to supply water for irrigation and home use within the state capital.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that this isn’t the primary time flooding has been attributed to the collapse of the Alau Dam. In September 1994, roughly 400,000 individuals in Maiduguri had been displaced by a flood attributable to the dam’s collapse, which additionally destroyed crops and property in six states: Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kwara, Katsina, Plateau, and components of Cameroon. An analogous occasion occurred in September 1999, prompting the operators of Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro dams to open their gates to stop dam overflow.
Earlier within the 12 months, Dr Adeniyi Aremu, Managing Director of the Decrease Niger River Basin Improvement Authority, North Central Nigeria, introduced Federal Authorities plans to assemble extra dams nationwide for potable water provide and irrigation.
Police get better 11 our bodies
The Borno State Police Command has confirmed the restoration of 11 our bodies that drowned because of the flood in varied components of the state.
Based on a press release signed by the Supervising Police Public Relations Officer for the Northeast, SP Ahmed Wakil, “The joint efforts of CP Yusufu Mohammed Lawal psc, in addition to devoted officers and males of the command, are actively engaged in addressing the flood catastrophe in Maiduguri metropolis (MMC). Regrettably, a complete of 11 decomposed corpses have been recovered because of the current flood catastrophe, and rescue operations are ongoing.”
The assertion famous that the drowned our bodies had been recovered in several areas, together with Lamisula, Jere, GRA, Bulabulin, and Dandal, between 10:00 am and a couple of:00 pm on 11 and 12 September 2024.
Islamic council urges prevention
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs has known as on the federal government to take decisive motion to stop future flooding. In a press release by the Deputy Secretary-Normal, Prof Salisu Shehu, the NSCIA urged authorities to totally deploy emergency administration businesses and the Northeast Improvement Fee to successfully handle the present catastrophe and alleviate the struggling of affected residents.
NESREA warns
In a bid to stop future flooding, the Director-Normal of the Nationwide Environmental Requirements and Rules Enforcement Company (NESREA), Dr Harmless Barikor, has warned amenities to handle compliance gaps of their operations to keep away from sanctions. He expressed concern over the flagrant disregard for environmental legal guidelines by sure amenities throughout a routine compliance monitoring train throughout the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“Amenities that discharge untreated effluents and function with out needed environmental paperwork similar to Environmental Influence Statements, Environmental Audits, and Environmental Permits will face sanctions. From January up to now, 75 non-compliant amenities have been shut down by NESREA, and the enforcement will proceed,” Barikor stated.
FG dredges Ogun River
The Federal Authorities on Friday commenced the dredging of the Ogun River from Isheri to Ikorodu, Lagos State, to stop perennial flooding of communities alongside the axis.
The Managing Director and Chief Government Officer of Ogun/Osun River Basin Improvement Authority, Deji Ashiru, stated the six-month venture would widen and enhance the river’s depth to accommodate extra water and management flooding.
Ashiru clarified that flooding within the Isheri space of Ogun State has typically been erroneously blamed on the Oyan Dam, whereas the 52 tributaries to the Ogun River have considerably contributed to the rise in water ranges.