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NIHSA Warns Of Heavy Flooding In Rivers, Others
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has warned Nigerians living by the banks of River Niger and its floodplains to immediately relocate over possible flooding, listing Rivers, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and Kogi as states that would be most affected.
The agency gave the warning, yesterday, in Abuja in a statement signed by the Director of Engineering Hydrology, Mr Clement Nze.
He said the middle portion of the Niger Basin (Niger Republic) experienced high flows last week with the flood advancing into the Lower Niger (Nigeria).
NIHSA noted that both Kainji and Jebba dams were already spilling water downstream with the level of water in Lokoja downstream of the confluence standing at 8.69m.
The statement reads, “The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) wishes to inform the general public, especially those living by the Banks of River Niger and its floodplains, that River flooding is likely to occur.
“The middle Niger portion of the Niger Basin (Niger Republic) experienced high flows last week.
“The flood has advanced into the Lower Niger (Nigeria). Accordingly, both Kainji and Jebba Dams are already spilling water downstream.
“The level of water in Lokoja as at today, 29th August, 2018 (downstream the confluence), is 8.69 meters. This value has exceeded the corresponding value of 8.57 meters that occurred on 29th August 2012.
“Meanwhile, the flooding that occurred in Kaduna on 23rd and 24th August 2018, has started arriving Shiroro Dam built on River Kaduna.
In the event that Shiroro Dam equally starts spilling water that will portend more danger downstream.
“The following states should be on watch out; Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Anambra, Delta and Bayelsa.
“Inflow contribution from River Benue is equally advancing.
“However, the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon is still impounding water, so no spilling yet into River Benue.”
The agency attributed this to a likely rise in the sea level and tidal surge, which would impact fishing and coastal transportation.
The outlook, which is a yearly projection by the agency, further indicated that flash and urban floods were expected to occur in Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Lagos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Yola, Abuja and Maiduguri.
Others are Awka, Abakaliki, Birnin-Kebbi, Kano, Yenogoa, Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Lokoja, Lafia, Makurdi, Calabar, Jos, Owerri, Osogbo, Ilorin and Nsukka. Gombe, Suleja, Karu, Nyanya, Abaji, Onitsha, Sapele, Hadejia and other major cities with poor drainage completed the list.
Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, while presenting the outlook, explained that going by the 2018 AFO, water levels on River Niger and Benue, among other major river systems, would rise and remain high during the rainy season.
He raised concern that some dams in the country were getting silted up, with the storage capacity also reducing.
President Bola Tinubu has commiserated with the former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, over the passing of his mother, Dame Ezinne Mary Oduah Amaechi, who died at the age of 89.
Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, last Friday, expressed heartfelt condolences to Amaechi and family, the Catholic Church and the government and people of Rivers State over the loss of the deceased.
He acknowledged the deceased’s commitment to the Catholic faith, her exemplary devotion to family values, and her dedication to raising her children.
The President also noted that the late matriarch’s life reflected the virtues of love, sacrifice, kindness, and perseverance, qualities that endeared her to all who came in contact with her.
He urged the bereaved family to take solace in the remarkable legacy of faith, dignity, and service that Dame Amaechi bequeathed to her children, the Church, and society.
“My heartfelt condolences to Rt. Hon. Amaechi, the entire Amaechi family, the Catholic faithful, and the government and people of Rivers State over the loss of Dame Ezinne Amaechi, a champion of faith whose life was marked by humility and selfless service to humanity.
“May Almighty God grant her soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn her passing at this difficult time”, the President said.
In his own condolence message, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, expressed deep sympathy with Amaechi, describing the death of his mother as an irreparable loss not only to the immediate family, but to the Catholic congregation, the entire Ubima community and Rivers State.
In a condolence message issued on behalf of the government and people of Rivers State, Fubara noted that the loss of a mother is a deeply painful experience, and urged the family to take solace in the good life the deceased lived and the legacies she left behind.
He acknowledged the vital role the deceased “played in shaping the character and values of her family and the community at large.”
He prayed God Almighty to comfort the entire family at this difficult period and grant the soul of the departed matriarch a peaceful rest.
The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, has urged officers of tertiary institutions in the state to continue to uphold the principles of educational development for societal growth.
The SSG noted this during a courtesy visit by the Rector and principal officers of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt, last Friday.
The SSG, according to a statement by the Head of the Media in his office, Juliana Masi, noted that education is a catalyst for development.
“I believe this institution will continue to grow and become a central place of learning and development,” he said.
Also speaking, the Rector, Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Dr. Moses Neebee, said the projects initiated by Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration are ready for commissioning.
He said the polytechnic was accredited by the National Board of Technical Education and the Federal Ministry of Education, and is therefore ready for greater impact in the educational sector.
The Rector thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for timely execution of projects and welfare of staff in the institution, and appealed to the State Government for further support.
“We thank His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for fulfilling his promise in the polytechnic by ensuring the execution of projects and the welfare of staff”, he said.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has called on the Rivers State Government to urgently recruit personnel into government-owned media establishments to address the acute shortage of staff caused by the retirement of many experienced workers.
The Union said the persistent manpower deficit has continued to affect the efficiency and productivity of state-owned media organisations, stressing that prompt recruitment would strengthen information dissemination and improve service delivery across the sector.
The resolution was part of a communiqué issued at the end of the State Congress of the Union held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Port Harcourt, recently.
By: King Onunwor
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