About 445 local government areas across 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will witnessing heavy flooding during the 2022 raining season, Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu has stated.
The minister, who spoke while unveiling the 2022 annual flood outlook put together by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, said 233 local government areas in 32 states are at the risk of what he called highly probably flood risk areas while 212 local government areas across 35 states are at a risk of moderate flooding during the year.
Lagos, Edo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Abia and the FCT lead states at the risk of highly probable flooding during the year.
The minister said 57 local government areas across the country are likely to experience highly probable flooding between April and June while 220 others will witness highly probably flooding between July and September.
He also eight states, including Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun and Imo states will experience coastal flooding during the year due to rise in sea level and tidal surge, which will impact on fishing, wildlife habitation and river navigation.
He said urban flooding will also be experienced in Lagos, Kaduna, Suleja, Gombe, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Benin and Lokoja among other cities across the country.
