FG Warns Nigerians Of More Floods
Nigerians should expect additional floods in 2021, according to the Federal Government.
Clement Nze, Director-General of the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), presented at a Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers webinar on Friday.
Climate change, population growth, urbanization, economic development, and poor drainage systems are all contributing to increased flooding, according to Nze.
Changes in climatic precipitation, river flow regime changes, and rising sea levels, according to the official, could exacerbate the situation.
“Floods have begun to occur in more states across the country, which is consistent with the flood scenarios presented in the 2021 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO),” he said.
Lagos, Taraba, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, and Delta were among the states that saw severe rain and strong winds in 2021, according to him.
The DG added that the situation in Lagos has been made worse by rising sea levels caused by Arctic ice melting over the previous decade.
According to NAN, Nze stated that the current flooding is not unique to Nigeria, but affects the entire world.
In July, heavy rainstorms in Germany and Belgium flooded streams, washing away houses and automobiles and causing huge landslides.
The AFO, according to the NIHSA’s director, is helping the agency improve overflow predictions and management.
Sensitization workshops, updated hydrological datasets, and improved hydrological modeling tools are all being used to engage the public, according to Nze.
To avoid submersion, he advocated for the enforcement and reconsideration of environmental regulations, as well as those governing housing, land use, and urban and regional planning.
