Environment
PH Residents Jittery Over Flooding As Rainy Season Approaches
The media, particularly, the electronic media last week was abuzz with news of complaints of flooding by some residents of Port Harcourt and its environs over last Sunday’s heavy rainfall.
Information available to The Tide revealed that complaints were coming from areas that experienced severe flooding last year.
These areas include Eneka, Elekahia, parts of D-line and Eliozu. The rest are Mile I Market, Rukpakulus, Eliozu, and Igboh Etche, amongst others.
However, as the rainy season approaches, residents of these areas and other parts of Port Harcourt are already jittery over the imminent severe flooding that maybe experienced in the city this year.
A cross section of respondents who expressed their concern in an interview with The Tide, contended that if urgent attention is not given to the issue, the state may experience severe flooding this year.
They however commended the Rivers State Government for the several flood control measures taken so far, since last year, including the dredging of major water channels. They stressed the need for the government to work with community leaders to stop people from building on water right of ways.
The Chairman, Health Safety and Environment (HSE), Chinwo Town, Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, Prince William Chinwo stressed the need for the government to widen drainages located in high density areas of the city to ensure easy flow of water.
Chinwo also stressed the need for wider drainages for new road networks while government should continue with its on-going desilting programme of major creeks and canals across the city.
He also called for sanctions against those dumping refuse into drainages and creeks, stressing that until people are arrested and punished, the situation will not stop.
Also speaking, Mr. Felix Godwin, a trader at the Mile I Market, stressed the need for more sensitisation programmes to create awareness on the dangers of dumping refuse into drainages as well as building on water right of ways.
Godwin also stressed the need for the government to check the incessant flow of water from Sangana Street and Dline to the Mile I market.
“If the government can control the flooding on the major roads and streets, this place will be okay for us, because the water always flows from Sangana and Dline side to the market,” he said.
Also speaking, a resident of D-line, Mr. Chukwudi Kelvin said that residents of D-line especially Sangana Street should be blamed for the incessant flooding of the area.
“I think, the government doesn’t have much to do, because most of the problem, is being caused by the people.
“You know that some people use to throw their refuse into the gutters especially whenever it rains. If the government can set up an agency to watch and punish people, the situation will stop,” he said.
Mr. Kelvin who volunteered to assist the government with information on those dumping refuse into the drainage, said that the situation must be checked before the incident of last year repeats itself.
He complained that last year, he lost all his belongings to flooding and prays the incident does not repeat this year.
“Last year, when the flooding came, I lost everything. I also left my house because the water level was almost at my chest.” “If not that I have renewed my rent for this year, I would have packed out of this place,” he said.
Meanwhile, Environmentalists have blamed the incessant flooding in the city on the poor environmental attitude of the people.
An Environmentalist, Mr. Thomas Ikarabu told The Tide in an interview that despite the effort of the State Government to ensure the free flow of water from the city to the rivers, most people are busy erecting structures on water right of ways.
Mr. Ikarabu also condemned the indiscriminate dumping of wastes into the Ntawogba and other creeks in the city and called for severe sanctions.
Meanwhile, Rivers State Government has promised to step up its sensitisation campaign against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainages and canals.
The commissioner for Environment, Professor Roseline Konya, said in a telephone interview with The Tide that effort would be made to stop people from indiscriminately dumping refuse into drainages. Professor Konya said that people must support the government to check flooding this year in the city by avoiding habits that lead to flooding.
It would be noted that the present administration under Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has shown much concern towards checking flooding in the city of Port Harcourt and environs.
The ongoing dredging of the Ntawogba creek is one of the several measures taken by the government to check flooding in the city.
However, as the rainy season approaches, it behoves on the people to assist the government control flooding in the city by checking the dumping of wastes into drainages.
This was disclosed in a keynote address by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, at the AFO public presentation at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Abuja, organised by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NiHSA, with the theme ‘Smart Water Resources Management: Moving from Oil to Water-Based Economy’.
Utsev acknowledged that early information saves lives, livelihoods, protects infrastructure, and reduces economic losses, saying that, as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving flood forecasts and preparedness, is the modernisation of the national hydrological monitoring networks.
The minister also said his ministry is strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, to ensure better integration of weather and water information, as it is critical for delivering reliable forecasts that support farmers, disaster managers, urban planners, and other key sectors of the economy.
He said AFO is therefore not just a scientific report, it is a call to action by all in terms of preparation ahead of the flood season, as early information saves lives, livelihoods, protects infrastructure, and reduces economic losses.
However, the minister acknowledged that forecasts alone are not sufficient if the information does not translate into action at the community level, which he said his Ministry is working with other relevant government agencies to mitigate the impacts of flooding.
Meanwhile, the 2026 AFO presentation had in attendance President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal.
Others present were the federal ministries: Water Resources and Sanitation; Livestock Development, Environment and Women Affairs.
Others include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, State Governments, Service Chiefs, development partners and the media.
He said: “The 2026 flood forecast presented today provides us with the following general highlights: High Flood Risk: 14,118 communities in 266 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 States and FCT fall within the high flood risk areas. The States are: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT.
“Moderate Flood Risk: 15,597 Communities in 405 LGAs, 35 states except Ekiti State, will experience moderate flood risk.
“Low Flood Risk: Incidences of minimal flood is expected in 923 communities in 77 LGAs in 24 States. The States are Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.
“Flash and Urban Flooding: Flash and urban flooding are projected in major cities in the country due to high rainfall intensities, low attention to management of water facilities including drainage systems, waterways and lack of flood resilience structures. Cities such as Abakaliki, Abeokuta, Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin–Kebbi, Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Nguru, Onitsha, Oshogbo, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Warri and Yola, among others are to experience these categories of flood incidence.
“Coastal and Riverine Flooding: Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo are to experience coastal flooding due to rise in sea level and tidal surge and this would impact on fishing, wildlife habitation and river navigation.”
He also emphasised that, “As we transition toward a water-based economy, we must recognize that water security is national security. Effective water governance will play a critical role in ensuring food security, supporting economic diversification, and improving the overall well-being of our citizens.”
However, the Minister called on State andand Local Governments including communities to start preparation to mitigate the impacts of the predicted flood.
“I therefore call on state governments, local authorities, disaster management agencies, farmers, and community leaders to carefully study the findings and advisories contained in this document and take the necessary steps to prepare for the coming flood season.
“Furthermore, we are encouraging state governments to integrate flood risk considerations into land-use planning, urban development, and infrastructure design.
“Floodplains must be properly managed, drainage systems must be improved, and communities must be empowered to adapt to changing climate conditions.
“Preparedness remains the most effective strategy for reducing flood risks. When we plan ahead, we protect lives, safeguard infrastructure, and preserve economic gains. Let us commit to building a safer, more resilient and more water-secure nation.”
Earlier, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, NiHSA, said the 2026 AFO aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda in terms of economic diversification, infrastructure development, climate resilience, food security and sustainable water management.
Mohammed also explained that, “The AFO has evolved into an important national planning instrument that provides early scientific prediction of flood risks in the country, evidence-based guide for decision-makers and platform for emergency coordination among stakeholders.
“In producing this year’s forecast, the Agency undertook a comprehensive and data-driven process to provide tailored information for high-risk flood zones and flash floods in urban cities and towns.
“Building on the success achieved through AFO publications, we have upgraded from reporting flood forecast to Flood Risk Intelligence Architecture and from the traditional modelling to Hybrid AI-Integrated Modelling system to improve forecast reliability, reduce false alarms and improve the lead time accuracy.
“Not these alone, the modelling for the 2026 forecast have been conducted in-house. This marks a strategic shift toward enhancing capacity building, manpower development and institutional resilience.”
