THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned that about 13 states of the federation would experience heavy flooding in the remainder of the year.
It listed the affected states as Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa.
The agency disclosed that Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba Dams are expected to overflow their banks before the end of next month.
It added that the opened Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroun would exacerbate the situation in parts of Nigeria.
NEMA’s Director General, Mustapha Ahmed, who made the disclosures in Abuja on Monday, September 19, during a meeting to review the emergency and plan for further action by all responders, said: “Based on our communication with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Lagdo Dam operators in the Republic of Cameroun commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir on September 13.
“We are aware that the released water cascades down to Nigeria through River Benue and its tributaries, thereby inundating communities that have already been impacted by heavy precipitation.
“The released water complicates the situation further downstream as Nigeria’s inland reservoirs, including Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro, which are also expected to overflow between now and October ending, according to NIHSA.
“According to NIHSA, Kainji and Jebba Dams have already started spilling excess water from their reservoirs.”
