The floods are already here, says the
Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, as River Niger, River Benue,
Kainji Dam and the confluence of water bodies in Lokoja have all
overflowed their various banks.
According to the agency, the above
mentioned water bodies overflowed their banks on Monday, August 8, 2016,
adding that various agencies were currently struggling to impound the
floods, which in a matter of days shall be felt in many more locations
across the country.
In a circular with reference number
MWR/NIHSA/EH/S/1/37, signed by its Director-General, Moses Beckley, and
obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday, NIHSA made it clear
that the flooding situations at the upper reach of the River Niger
portended imminent danger for Nigeria in the coming weeks and months.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency
is the Federal Government agency responsible for monitoring all the
major rivers in Nigeria including the trans-boundary rivers Niger and
Benue.
In its latest circular, the agency said
information from the regional Niger Basin Authority with headquarters in
Niamey, Niger Republic, warned of imminent flooding incident in Nigeria
of the magnitude comparable to that of 2012 flood.
The NBA is a regional body of
nine-member countries in the West and Central Africa, namely: Benin,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and
Chad.
At a global level, this regional
cooperation body monitors the river flows and socio-economic
developments within the river systems in these countries, and shares
information/data among member countries.
According to NIHSA, it was on this basis
that the secretariat of the NBA notified Nigeria that the rainy season,
which started in the Middle Niger (Burkina Faso and Niger Republic) in
June, 2016, had led to a gradual rise of the level of River Niger in
Niamey, Niger Republic.
The agency said, “This high level of
water in Niger Republic is already spreading to Benin Republic, and
invariably, to Nigeria. As of 2nd August, 2016, the Yellow Warning Line
of 5.30m corresponding to 1,700m3/s flow rate has been reached and
exceeded in Niamey, Niger Republic.
“According to the information, if the
heavy rainfall continues in intensity and duration within these regions
of the River Niger, it is imminent that flood situation similar to that
of year 2012 may occur. It takes approximately nine days for the
propagation of peak floods from Niamey to Nigeria (Jidere Bode, Kebbi
State).
“The above observation transmitted to
Nigeria is in tandem with the records from our monitoring stations at
critical locations on rivers Niger and Benue, as well as their
tributaries within the Nigerian portion of the Niger Basin. The water
levels are rising gradually at most of our stations.”
The agency added, “Specifically, the
water level at Jidere Bode (Kebbi State), our first monitoring station
as River Niger enters Nigeria, is 3.77m high as of 8th August, 2016,
which has exceeded the 3.32m value observed on 8th August, 2012. Also on
the same day, the level of water at the Kainji reservoir is 132.62m,
which is higher than the value recorded about this time in 2012.
“Presently, impoundment of water for
hydropower generation is taking place at the dam. It is expected that
inflows from upstream of the River Niger would be accommodated by Kainji
Dam before it starts spilling to Jebba Dam once the level gets to
141.73m. At our monitoring station in Wuro-Boki, Adamawa State, the
first monitoring station as River Benue enters Nigeria, the water level
has risen to 5.36m as of August 8, 2016, as against 4.88m recorded on
August 8, 2012.”
NIHSA noted that although there was
presently no water releases from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, the heavy
rainfall being witnessed within the catchment of River Benue had caused
the water level to be on the increase.
It stated that as of August 8, 2016, its
monitoring station at Makurdi recorded an alarming 9.20m height in
water level, as against 9.17m recorded on August 8, 2012.
The agency said, “Based on this, we wish
to alert the general public that the Middle Niger (Niger Republic and
Burkina Faso, upstream of Nigeria) is already flooded after the
magnitude of the flood experienced in that region in 2012. This
situation portends danger for Nigeria where there are many active
tributaries to River Niger that contributes quite heavily to flooding
incidents.
“At the Confluence in Lokoja, the water
level as of 8th August, 2016, is 7.74m, which has exceeded the 7.72m
recorded value on 8th August, 2012. This value is sending a strong
signal to dwellers within the flood plains to relocate immediately to
safer and higher grounds.
“Downstream of Lokoja at Onitsha, the
water level has risen to an alarming height of 9.16m. This value is
expected to increase with time. Therefore, residents along the Habour
Bridge Head and industrial activities within the Habour Industrial
Layout, Onitsha, should be on the lookout.”
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