Ahead of the rainy season, states have commenced measures to curb flooding expected to affect no fewer than 1,249 communities in 176 local governments across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The measures include public enlightenment campaigns, dredging water channels and relocating communities on river banks and floodplains.

On Thursday, the federal government announced that  states would witness heavy flooding between April and November.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev disclosed this at the unveiling of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency in Abuja.

Utsav identified the high flood-risk states as Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo and Jigawa.

Others are Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT.

The minister raised concerns that flooding remains one of the devastating natural disasters in Nigeria, with climate change accelerating its frequency and severity.

He also predicted that coastal and riverine areas such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo would experience flooding due to  rise in sea level and tidal surge, and this would impact fishing, wildlife habitation and river navigation.

“The 2025 Annual Flood Outlook shows that 1,249 communities in 176 local government areas in 30 states and the FCT fall within the High Flood Risk Areas, while 2,187 communities in 293 councils in 36 states of the federation and the FCT fall within the Moderate Flood Risk Areas.

“Flash and urban flooding are projected in major cities in the country due to high rainfall intensity, low attention to the management of water facilities, including drainage systems, waterways and lack of flood resilience structures.

“Nevertheless,  flood, unlike other natural disasters, can be contained with proper planning and the provision of necessary infrastructure. Rather than just general predictions, forecasts are now tailored to specific communities, enhancing actionable communication and preparedness at the grassroots level,” he stated.

Earlier in his address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Richard Pheelangwah, urged stakeholders to prioritise early response.

He said, “This outlook is not just about numbers, it is about protecting lives and livelihoods.”

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, noted that this year’s flood forecast goes beyond mapping local government areas and now identifies specific communities at risk.

Mohammed added that  AFO’s enhanced methodology is the result of continuous feedback, technological advancement and broad inter-agency collaboration.

“We are transforming flood data into real-time decisions and impactful resilience-building. Our focus has expanded to assess sectoral impact on health, education, agriculture and infrastructure, offering more robust tools to policymakers and disaster risk managers,” he stated.

Responding to the forecast, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency said it has alerted residents living in flood-prone local government areas and communities to be prepared as their territories may be inundated from April.

The Deputy Publicity Secretary of the agency, Uche Okalawan disclosed that  state authorities have started clearing blocked drainages and evacuating structures blocking the free flow of water.

Okalawan listed 10 local government areas out of the 21 councils that are flood-risk areas.

They include Ogbaru, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Onitsha South, Onitsha North, Awka North, Idemili South, Ekwusigo and Ihiala.

He said, “The state government has started de-silting water channels and clearing blocked drainages. Residents of these communities have been notified and alerted to the impending flooding.

“In the event of flooding,  internally displaced persons camps set up by  Governor Chukwuma Soludo, are still in place and the elderly, women and children will be moved to the camps immediately.”

FROM SAMSON ALFA, MINNA 

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate will soon commission the oxygen plants donated by Global Fund to  Niger State. 

Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr Bello Tukur, disclosed  this during an inspection visit to the plant site located at the General Hospital in Suleja.

The commissioner, who was represented by the Director of Medical Services and Training in the  ministry, Dr Abubakar Bosso, explained that the visit was aimed at assessing the progress of the project.

According to the commissioner, the plant will be the first of its kind owned by  the state government and will be operated by the donor for a period of 10 years.

“As it is, the plant is set to be commissioned by the minister of health and social welfare before  it is handed over to the state government, adding that the project will not only serve the local community, but also generate revenue.”

The commissioner said when commissioned, government will be supplying oxygen to public and private hospitals in Niger State and neighbouring states.

He pointed  out that the sole responsibility of the state is to fuel the 150-liter, 800kva generator and also connect the facility to the national grid, through the  Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy.

 In his address, the Medical Director of Suleja General Hospital, Dr Adedokun Adebayo said the oxygen plant will reduce several requests about oxygen, adding that they usually  procure oxygen from Maitama Hospital in Abuja. 

He  stated that the project which began in 2023 through the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with an NGO, is committed to building, equipping and maintaining the plant. 

He, however, emphasised  the need for security in Suleja, and called for  increased  security personnel to protect the facility from theft and vandalisation.

Araromi market located inside Agodi, adjacent the Correctional Service, on Thursday night, recorded another fire incident.

The market is notable for the sale of auto spare parts and accessories. Scavengers and those who live on dismantling vehicles also make a living from abandoned cars in the market.

It was gathered that not less than 12 shops with properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the latest fire incident.

Eyewitness account states that the incident started at Block A, No 64 Mayegun Cement store around 10:55pm.

The incident, which lasted for several hours, was attributed to a surge in power supply to the area.

Confirming the incident, General Manager of Oyo Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, said the agency received the distress call at exactly 11:02pm.

Akinyinka said: “The agency’s control room received the distress call at exactly 23:02 hrs on Thursday, April 10. 

“The fire personnel led by CFS Jimoh promptly deployed to the scene of the fire incident. On arrival, we met some lockup shops  alight and we swiftly swung into action and restricted the fire from spreading to other  shops.

“The fire affected 12 out of multiple shops and we were able to save property worth billions of naira in the market. The appliance returned to the station by 03:18hrs and on standby.” 

There have been multiple fire incidents at Araromi Market, Agodi Gate, Ibadan in recent times.

On January 14, 2023, a fire broke out at the market, gutting over 25 shops.

The fire started from one shop and spread to others due to the late arrival of  fire fighters. 

The cause was attributed to scavengers burning disused tires, which ignited nearby combustibles.

On December 20, 2024, another fire incident occurred with flames engulfing the market around 2am. 

 The fire destroyed properties worth millions, and traders suffered heavy losses. 

The cause of the fire was uncertain but early reports suggested that it might have been triggered by an electrical fault.

On March 30, 2the market was engulfed in flames around 2am. The fire destroyed properties worth millions of naira and initial report did not give the immediate and remote cause of the incident.

The incidents have resulted in significant losses with traders  clamouring for enhanced safety measures in the market.

From Henry Ibya, Makurdi

Group under the auspices of Benue Advocacy Network, BAN, has expressed disappointment  over Governor Hyacinth Alia’s recent media chat, accusing him of making unsubstantiated claims and avoiding critical issues affecting the state.

Making their position known while reacting to the issues that Governor Alia had raised in his media chat during a press conference held yesterday in Makurdi, the group criticised him for downplaying the severity of insecurity in Benue State, particularly the attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen, which they argued have resulted in thousands of deaths and displacement of communities. 

The President of the group, Bemshima Ortese, insisted that Governor Alia’s description of these incidents as “skirmishes” was misleading.

The network equally expressed concern over the governor’s reversal of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of 2017, which they noted effectively addressed the herdsmen menace, pointing out that abandonment of the law had led to the resurgence of open grazing and attacks on farmers.

BAN also disputed the governor’s claim that the state had no data on Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, citing the detailed documentation carried out by the previous government through  Benue State Emergency Management Agency, BSEMA.

On financial management, the group questioned the governor’s assertion that he inherited N359 billion  salary arrears, explaining that the actual figure was N187.56 billion, as stated in the handover notes.

 BAN also criticised his lack of transparency in managing the state’s resources and demanded that government

publish the monthly allocations received from the federation’s account since May 2023, as well as requested accountability in the management of Benue’s funds and disclosure of its wage bill.

The group  urged  Governor Alia to demonstrate transparency in the award of contracts, as well as publish details of contracts awarded and the cost of underpasses constructed in Makurdi and Gboko.

On insecurity and the issue of IDPs, the network urged him to address the security situation and provide a plan to end the attacks, as well as explain to the public reasons behind his construction of additional IDP camps instead of fulfilling his campaign promise of relocating displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

Benue Advocacy Network  vowed to no longer tolerate the Alia administration’s sustained media attacks on the previous government and called on the governor to focus on his accomplishments and address the state’s pressing issues. 

BAN also reminded him to note that though a cleric, he is no longer on the pulpit, but a politician and should know that every bit of falsehood he utters against the previous administration will this time be met with equal response, adding that Benue people are closely watching his utterances and actions and will respond at the appropriate time.

The group urged  Alia to promote transparency and accountability in governance, by ensuring the welfare and safety of Benue  citizens instead of misleading the public with falsehood.