News

NIMET Warns Of More Flooding In July

Published

9 years ago

July 21, 2017

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has warned that Nigerians should expect more flooding following the prospects of moderate to severe run-off of rains fall across some parts of the country.
Consequently, the agency has warned that the current soil moisture condition across Nigeria shows that Kaduna, Benue, Anambra, Delta, Gombe, Zamfara and Northern Yobe will experience moderate to severe run-off of rains between July and September.
In a statement in Abuja, Head of Public Relations Unit, Mrs Tessy Ushie, explained that NiMet made the prediction in its 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP).
The agency had predicted that parts of Nigeria would be affected when the monsoon features becomes well established over the country.
It explained that the first decade of July, 2017, witnessed significant positioning of the monsoon features across the country.
It would be recalled that NiMET, had in the 2017 prediction, warned that Rivers State may suffer severe flooding as a result of heavy rain fall.
NiMET had said that many communities in the coastal areas of the state would likely witness heavy flooding.
It listed the local government areas most likely to be heavily affected to include, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada West, PHALGA and Obio/Akpor.
The agency, however, assured that it was prepared to respond to any emergency situation arising from flooding, but also called on residents living in the flood-prone areas not to go to sleep with their two eyes closed.
While reacting to the NiMET prediction, the Head, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-South, James Eze Major, had blamed poor town planning administration and the penchant for property developers to ignore physical and urban planning codes and laws while erecting structures, as a major reason for the flash floods already witnessed by residents of some parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor LGAs.
Major said, “We are prepared to respond to any unusual situation in less than 24 hours. We have the ability to interface with impacted areas and victims within short notice. We are also ready to supply relief materials, when the need arises.
“I am appealing to people living in the local government areas listed above, especially those close to the River Niger and its major tributaries, not to sleep with their two eyes closed. They should always look out for and identify when the level of water threatens to overflow its bank.
“Also, the town planning officers should ensure that the standard rules and regulations are adhered to while residents should ensure that blocked water channels are cleared to avoid creating serious challenge for government,” the Major added.
In the current warning, NiMET said the line separating the dry Easterly winds and the moist South Westerly winds (Inter Tropical Discontinuity) oscillated between latitude 16 degrees North and 19.5 degrees North with mean position of 17.9 degrees North.
“The Northern Hemispheric High (Saharan High) weakened in the period with a gradual retreat to the Mediterranean Sea/Europe in favour of the northward push of the Inter Tropical Discontinuity.
“The Southern Hemispheric High encroached northwards with its 1015hPa (hemisphere per hour) Isoline extended to the coastal cities of Nigeria thus enhancing the influx of moisture inland at the surface.
“These were engulfed by moist maritime winds in the period except on July 4 that continental winds were observed at the 850hPa,” NiMet stated.
The agency also disclosed that the favourable monsoon conditions had led to adequate moisture in the atmosphere and subsequently precipitated in large amounts that the soil could not absorb.
It said the situation was responsible for the flooding that hit Lagos, Niger, Abuja and some other parts of the country with its attendant destruction of lives and property.
According to NiMet, it is pertinent to note that Victoria Island recorded one fall of 176.5mm rain on July 8 and Lagos Roof near Tafawa Balewa Square had 132.8mm the same day.
“Some stations had recorded heavy rainfall the previous day, July7, with 69.8mm and 65.6mm respectively which led to the reported flooding.
“In order to mitigate future occurrence of such flooding, the public should avoid blockage of water ways and flood plains and ensure clearance of drainage in their environment.
“NiMet will continuously monitor the weather conditions as they unfold and provide regular updates and advisories to the public,” NiMet said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has commiserated with all Nigerians on the damage caused by recent floods across the country, especially in Niger and Lagos states.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, conveyed the government’s sympathy at a news conference in Abuja.
He said that about 30 states and over 100 local government areas, which had been categorised as high flood risk areas, could expect flooding this year.
The minister, however, gave assurance that the flow of this water would be constantly monitored by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), while flood alerts would continue to be issued across the country.
Adamu also advised that people should adhere to the advice in the recent Annual Flood Outlook issued by the NIHSA and other flood alerts by related agencies.
He said that the ministry would soon embark on a sensitisation campaign, in collaboration with NIHSA, to educate the entire citizenry on flood issues.
The minister called on the state and local governments to also embark on similar sensitisation campaigns on flooding, particularly at the grassroots level.
Adamu also advised that those living in urban cities to always refrain from constructing structures on drainages.
He, therefore, underscored the need for state and local governments to strictly enforce environmental laws and town planning guidelines so as to check uncontrolled physical development in their domains.
He, however, assured Nigerians that more dams and water reservoirs would be constructed across the country to avert recurrence of flood incidents in the future.
The minister’s statement coincided with Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo’s approval of the immediate release of N1.6 billion to 16 states already affected by the flood.

News

Primaries: APC Disowns Purported List Of Successful Candidates …Says It’s Fake, Unauthorised

Published

7 minutes ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disowned the purported official list of successful candidates from its recently-held primaries in circulation, describing it as fake and unauthorised.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the party had not released any official list of winners of its primaries.

“The APC hereby informs the general public that it has not released the official list of successful candidates from its recently-conducted primaries,” he said.

Morka called on members, stakeholders and the general public to disregard any publication or report announcing the outcome of the primaries.

According to him, successful candidates will be duly notified through the party’s official channels and certificates of return will thereafter be issued in accordance with established procedures.

The APC spokesperson urged the public to rely only on official communications from the party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened its window for political parties to upload the names of candidates emerging from primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While APC said the original list of its successful candidates at the primaries had not been officially made public, sources within the party confirmed that internal collation and verification processes are already ongoing pending the release of the list to the public.

News

NDLEA Busts Drug Syndicate, Seizes N12.3bn Canadian Cannabis In Lagos

Published

8 minutes ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 4,959 kilograms of Canadian Loud cannabis valued at N12.397bn at the Apapa Port in Lagos and dismantled a syndicate that plants illicit drugs in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers at motor parks.

The agency also arrested a businesswoman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with 7.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the false bottom of her luggage while she was travelling to Beijing, China.

NDLEA disclosed the arrests and seizures in a statement released yesterday by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to the agency, 38-year-old Iwebema Ogechi Peace was arrested at the departure hall of Terminal 2 of the Lagos airport on June 21 following credible intelligence.

The statement said, “A search of her check-in luggage led to the discovery of four large parcels of cocaine concealed in false bottom professionally created in her bag. The parcels of the Class A drug found hidden in the bag have a combined weight of 7.5 kilograms.”

The agency said operatives had tracked the container carrying the Canadian Loud shipment for over four weeks before intercepting it during a joint examination with officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Apapa Port on June 23.

It stated, “A total of 4,959 kilograms of the illicit drug consignment worth N12,397,500,000 in street value was recovered.”

NDLEA said the 40-foot container, which also contained a Ford and Nissan vehicle, had been under surveillance since April 25, when it departed Toronto, Canada, before passing through Montreal and Morocco and eventually arriving in Lagos.

The agency also announced the dismantling of a drug syndicate that secretly plants narcotics in the luggage of unsuspecting passengers travelling by road.

The operation followed the interception of a Sienna bus travelling from Nnewi, Anambra State, to Abuja, where operatives recovered a package of methamphetamine weighing 467.7 grams concealed inside a passenger’s luggage.

According to the statement, the supposed receiver of the package, Gloria Peter, denied ownership of the drugs, prompting investigators to arrest the bus loaders in Nnewi.

“The loaders revealed that the drug package was put into the woman’s bag by one of them on the directive of the driver of the bus, Abdurrazak Isah.

“His revelations made the driver open up and mention one of his passengers, Onyebuchi Victor Okoye, as the actual owner of the drug. Onyebuchi was then picked up at Utako, FCT, during another follow-up operation,” the statement said.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives arrested 57-year-old Ikechukwu Uwakwe at Iddo Motor Park in Lagos with 209.5 kilograms of Scottish Loud cannabis allegedly being transported to Enugu.

The agency also arrested two nationals of the Benin Republic, Hossou Tito Julien, 30, and Mancellim Dossou, 19, alongside a Nigerian, Jackson ThankGod, after intercepting a truck conveying illicit drugs from Togo through the Benin Republic.

“A thorough search of the truck led to the recovery of 558,900 pills of Tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment of the vehicle,” the statement said.

Similarly, two suspects, Lucky Abonga and Osas Azamobo, were arrested along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while transporting 118 kilograms of skunk concealed among legitimate goods in a truck heading to Onitsha, Anambra State.

In Amukoko, Lagos, NDLEA operatives arrested Helen Ese Idiji, 40, and Rashidat Sa’adullah, 53, with 28.8 kilograms of skunk.

The agency said investigations revealed that Helen used Rashidat’s residence as a storage point for illicit drugs before distributing them to customers.

Commending the officers involved in the operations, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the commands for sustaining the agency’s offensive against drug trafficking.

Marwa said the officers had maintained “their drug supply reduction efforts balanced with WADA sensitisation activities,” and urged them “not to rest on their oars.”

News

Forum Expresses Confidence In APC Candidates’ Performance In Rivers

Published

2 weeks ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress Christian Leaders Forum has expressed strong confidence in the capacity of All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress) candidates in the state to deliver effective governance if elected into office in the coming elections.
The State Coordinator of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, made this known during a breakfast and thanksgiving meeting held in Port Harcourt, where leaders gathered to pray for the stability of the party and the safety of its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.According to him, the meeting was convened to seek divine intervention for peace, unity, and security among APC candidates across Rivers State.
“Today we are praying for APC stability in Rivers State and the security of our candidates that have been elected to contest the 2027 elections. It is a breakfast meeting,” Aroh said.
He further expressed optimism that the party’s candidates would not disappoint the people if entrusted with leadership responsibilities.
“They will not fail when elected into office. We are here as fathers of the land to let them know, and I must tell you the truth that these are the authentic people that will do well in Rivers State,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the National Chairman of the forum, Professor Olanrewaju Abraham, commended the Rivers State chapter for organizing the programme, noting that the national body of the forum believes strongly in the power of prayer.
He stated that political leadership provides an opportunity to influence society positively, including advancing moral and spiritual values, while expressing confidence that APC candidates at all levels would emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Women Leader of the APC, Hon. Darling Amadi, praised the forum for its commitment to prayers for peace, stability, and the protection of party candidates.
Represented by the Deputy Women Leader of the party in the state, she described the initiative as commendable and urged other political and support groups within the party to emulate the gesture in promoting unity and stability.

By: John Bibor, Menebe Emmanuel & Fortune Paibi