Photo credit: PUNCH

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has advised Nigerians living along riverbanks in the River Benue Basin to relocate to safer areas due to rising flood risks.

In a statement on Thursday, NIHSA Director General Umar Mohammed warned that water levels on the River Benue have reached flooding thresholds due to increased rainfall. He also cautioned residents near the River Niger to move to safer locations, as the management of the Kainji and Jebba Dams work to control floodwaters.

This advisory follows the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, which contributed to flooding that has already caused fatalities and significant damage. Recent floods in Maiduguri, triggered by the overflowing Alau Dam, killed over 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

In 2022, flooding claimed 665 lives, displaced over 2.4 million people, and affected nearly 4.5 million, according to data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). In 2023, floods displaced 48,168 individuals, killed 28 people, and impacted 159,157 individuals.

In 2024, between April and September, floods affected over 1 million people, displaced 625,239, and claimed 259 lives.

The NIHSA chief urged Nigerians to cooperate with emergency management agencies and take steps to mitigate the effects of flooding, emphasizing the importance of resilience against future flood events.