Flooding: South-South states take precautionary measures, NiMet predicts heavy rainfall
The measures were sequel to the warning by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) that heavy rainfall might cause severe flooding across 30 states.
In Edo State, the Flood, Erosion and Watershed Management Agency (FEWMA) has ramped up mitigation efforts in flood-prone areas such as Ekenwan Road, Uselu, Upper Mission Extension, and Auchi.
According to the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Momoh, desilting of major drainage channels and sensitisation campaigns have commenced to ensure that water flows freely during the peak of the raining season.
“We are working closely with the state’s Ministry of Environment, local authorities, and community leaders to curtail early warning and educate residents on evacuation protocols,” Momoh said.
In a complementary effort, the state has unveiled a six-month work plan under the €175 million EIB-funded Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB).
The initiative targets gully erosion, land degradation, and flood vulnerability across Edo State.
Momoh noted that 10 percent of the fund would be accessible during the initial phase, provided benefiting states meet key administrative benchmarks.
He said the state government has committed N500 million in counterpart funding to fast-track implementation.
In Delta State, the state government has set up Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and activated its flood disaster preparedness mechanism due to the state’s coastal nature.
The Commissioner for Environment in the state, Mr Jamani Ejiro, emphasised that the indiscriminate dumping of waste and selling of water channels for building purposes were the major causes of flooding in the metropolis.
“We urge our residents to see their environment as their property and protect it. Keep drains clean and do not build on waterways,” he appealed.
To bolster preparedness, the state has set up IDP camps across key flood-prone localities in Isoko North, Bomadi, Ughelli South, and Asaba.
“We are prepared. Delta is a floodplain and we always take precautionary steps even before NiMet’s seasonal predictions,” Ejiro added.
In Bayelsa State, residents call for proactive action as flood fears mount. In 2022 floods displaced over 1.3 million people as such anxiety is growing as water levels rise in the Epie Creek and River Nun.
Residents of flood-prone areas in Yenagoa such as Azikoro, Ekeki, Swali, and Amarata are urging the state government to act swiftly.
Environmentalists like Mr. Jude Jack and Godwin Ekubo appealed for stricter waste management laws and proactive drainage clearing.
They warned that plastics and construction materials blocking gutters were compounding the flooding risk.
Responding to these concerns, the Director General of Flood and Erosion Control in the state, Mr Omuso Omuso, said the “Prosperity Administration” in Bayelsa State had instituted systematic cleaning of drainages and is committed to reducing the impact of floods.
“We cannot eliminate flooding completely due to our geographic location, but we can minimise its damage through preparedness and coordinated response,” Omuso said.
He added that the newly created flood control agency, in collaboration with the Ministries of Works and Environment, were already operational and addressing high-risk zones.
Meanwhile, across all three states, a common message resonates: flood prevention is a shared responsibility.
With rainfall intensifying in the coming weeks, the effectiveness of these measures will be tested.
