The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), Umar Mohammed, has warned that more heavy rainfall and flooding are expected across the country over the next 12 weeks, with the situation likely to worsen between August and September.
Mohammed said the devastating floods recently experienced in Lagos and other states did not come as a surprise, insisting that the agency had earlier predicted the flooding and issued warnings that were not taken seriously.
According to him, NiHSA carried out its flood forecasts using different scientific models before the rains began.
“This is something we foresaw. We saw it coming,” he said.
He warned that if urgent measures are not taken, the flooding could become more severe as the rainy season intensifies.
“As we speak now, with the flooding happening, if nothing is done, this is just the start of the rainy season, sometime around July to September, and it could be worse than what is even happening right now.
“And we’re expecting it to be worse around August and September, particularly August and September,” he said.
The NiHSA boss also raised concerns over the possible impact of flooding on drinking water, warning that water sources in affected communities could become contaminated.
Reacting to the widespread flooding that followed Tuesday’s torrential rainfall in Lagos, Mohammed said the state’s geographical location makes it vulnerable to different types of flooding.
He explained that Lagos is exposed to urban flooding, riverine flooding and coastal flooding because it is a coastal state with a major river system and is located close to the Atlantic Ocean.
According to him, the combination of these three forms of flooding could make the situation more devastating.
Mohammed noted that some parts of Lagos are at or below sea level, making it difficult for floodwaters to drain naturally.
He also blamed blocked and silted drainage systems for worsening the flooding, saying many drains inspected by the agency were already filled with stagnant water even before the peak of the rainy season.
He explained that the flooding currently being experienced in Lagos is being intensified by water flowing from the Ogun River into the state, adding that the riverine flooding is combining with urban flooding to increase the volume of water.
The NiHSA chief warned that if tidal flooding also occurs during periods of heavy rainfall, the situation could become even more severe.
He said the agency expects flooding to continue intermittently from July to September before gradually reducing in October.
According to him, the country may not experience significant relief until around November.
Mohammed also lamented what he described as poor cooperation from state governments, saying many fail to take the agency’s annual flood outlook and early warning reports seriously until flooding occurs.
He urged governments and residents to take precautionary measures, clear drainage channels and pay closer attention to flood forecasts to minimise the impact of the ongoing rainy season.
Punch
