Fresh Floods Imminent In 19 States …Lagos, Imo, A’Ibom, C’River To Be Affected

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), with the leader of the coup of 22nd March 2012 in Mali, Capt. Ahmadou Aya Sanogo, after a meeting in Bamako, last Friday.

The Federal Ministry of Environment on Saturday in Abuja announced a prediction of heavy rainfall which could cause flooding between now and Oct. 27 in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

The ministry’s Deputy Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management, Dr Morohunkeji Oyeleke, made the announcement in a statement made available to newsmen.

The ministry identified the states as Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Borno, Oyo, Niger, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Lagos, Osun, Bauchi, Sokoto, Plateau, Adamawa, Gombe, Imo, Ogun and Kebbi.

It also identified in specific terms some areas that could be affected as Sakaba in Kebbi, Sagamu in Ogun, Okigwe in Imo and Nafada in Gombe state.

Other areas are Kari and Kirfi in Bauchi, Makira in Sokoto, Shelleng and Shendam in Plateau, and Mubi and Numan in Adamawa.

The ministry also listed Donga, Lau and Mutum-Biyu in Taraba, Etiosa, Lekki and Surulere in Lagos and Igbo-Ora in Osun.

It further listed Briyel in Bukuru and Otukpo in Benue, Calabar in Cross River and Eket, Etinan, Ikot-Nakada, Itu and Oron areas of Akwa Ibom.

The flood-prone areas include Abaji, Kwali, Bwari, Mabushi, Kukwaba, Guzape, Karu, Kuje, Kurudu and Lugbe in the FCT.

The ministry also said areas which could be affected by the downpour-induced flood include Apata, Bodija, Challenge, Eleyele, Moniya, Aiyete, Eruwa, Iseyin, Kisi and Ogbomoso in Oyo.

It also listed Bida, Katcha, Kontagora, Mashegu and Sarki Pawa, all in Niger, Birnin Gwari, Kaduna, Jemaa, Kachia in Kaduna  and Bode Saadu, Ilorin, Kosubosu and Lafiaji in Kwara.

The ministry appealed to the governments in the identified states to take all necessary precautionary measures to avoid any untold hardship.

It added that adherence to similar warnings in the past had saved many peoples’ lives and property.