No fewer than 14 states, especially in the North-West and North Central, are at risk of flooding in the 2023 rainy season, the Federal Government has warned.

The Federal Government issued the flood alert yesterday, saying 14 states and 31 communities may witness heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding from July 4 to 8.

As contained in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Environment, the states and communities were identified as Plateau (Langtang and Shendam); Kano (Sumaila, Tudun Wada); Sokoto (Shagari, Goronyo, and Silame); and Delta (Okwe).

Others include Kaduna (Kachia); Akwa Ibom (Upenekang); Adamawa (Mubi, Demsa, Song, Mayo-Belwa, Jimeta, and Yola); and Katsina (Katsina, Jibia, Kaita, and Bindawa).

Also listed in the flood alert were Kebbi (Wara, Yelwa, and Gwandu); Zamfara (Shinkafi and Gummi); Borno (Briyel); Jigawa (Gwaram); Kwara (Jebba); Niger (Mashegu and Kontagora).

The Federal Government also urged relevant stakeholders within the states concerned to take precautionary measures to forestall the loss of lives and property.

Already in 2023, even though the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was not listed among the risk area by the Federal Government, the deadly flood submerged no fewer than 116 houses at the Trademore Estate in Lugbe of Abuja.

Recall that in 2022, at least 662 persons lost their lives, 3,174 suffered injuries and 2,430,445 individuals were displaced by flood disaster in the country, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The agency said thousands of houses, hectares of farmlands, and several critical national assets were destroyed by the raging floods.

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