FEDERAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO THE FLOODING IN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY
- September 16, 2018
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) inaugurated five Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) to be responsible for planning, organizing, directing and supervising all emergency operations in the twelve (12) states worst affected by flooding. They include:
#EOC “A” is to cover Niger and Kwara states;
#EOC “B” is to cover Kogi and Edo states;
#EOC “C” is to cover Benue, Taraba and Adamawa states;
#EOC “D” is to cover Anamabra and Delta states and;
#EOC “E” will cover Rivers and Bayelsa states.
President Muhammadu Buhari also approved 3 billion Naira for the procurement of medical and relief materials by NEMA to meet the needs of victims of the flooding.
NEMA declared national disaster on four states affected by the flooding. They are Niger, Delta, Anambra and Kogi states. The other 8 states (Taraba Adamawa, Kebbi, Edo, Rivers, Benue, Bayelsa and Kwara states) are under close monitoring and will be termed a national disaster if the situation worsens.
2. September 14, 2018
President Muhammadu Buhari directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to declare national disaster on states affected by extreme flooding and activate the Disaster Response Units of the military for possible search and rescue missions.
3. September 7, 2018
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) extended the number of states to be affected by flooding: Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Edo, Kogi, Anambra, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta, Taraba, Benue and Adamawa. They are 12 states in total.
4. September 6, 2018
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) informed the public that there had been systematic daily rise in the water levels on both rivers Niger and Benue with a stage height of 9.89meters and a discharge value of 21,326 cubic metres/second as against lower values of 9.43 meters and 19,762 cubic metres/second recorded on the corresponding date of September 6, 2012.
5. August 30, 2018
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) issued another warning to the public and residents around River Niger of impending river flooding. According to NIHSA, water level had increased to 8.69 meters on 29th August 2018 versus 8.57 meters for 29 August 2012 (using flood of 2012 as a benchmark), and to 8.84 meters on said date as against 8.62 meters on 30th August 2012.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) also issued a warning that many parts of the country are likely to experience flooding due to a shift in rainfall pattern caused by climate change.
6. August 29, 2018
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) informed the general public, particularly those living around the River Niger and its floodplains, that river flooding is likely to occur. They asked the following states to be on watch out; Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Anambra, Delta and Bayelsa.
