Residents in floodplains across 20 states have begun relocating following a recent warning of impending floods in the states by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
In its July flood alert released on Monday, NiMet listed Sokoto, Lagos, Edo, Benue, Yobe, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Delta, Cross River, Kaduna, Ondo, Adamawa, and Nasarawa among the states likely to experience flash floods due to imminent heavy rainfall in the coming months.
The agency urged residents in the affected areas to relocate where necessary, clear drainage systems, prepare emergency kits, turn off electricity and gas during flooding, reinforce mudslide prevention efforts, and promote community awareness.
Despite over ₦620 billion in ecological funds accruing to state governments from 2012 to date, responses from the sub-nationals have consistently fallen short of expectations, making flood disasters a recurring national tragedy.
Following NiMet’s recent flood alerts, some residents in the affected states have begun relocating from floodplains as advised.
The PUNCH