Federal Ministry of Environment issues FLOOD WARNING!!! ...23 States likely to be affected!

The Federal Ministry of Environment has issued yet another warning predicting a heavy downpour, which may cause flooding between now and 27 August.

Unlike its prediction last week, which foretold flooding in 14 states, the areas likely to be affected have expanded to 23 states.

Although the flood and heavy downpour did not happen as predicted, except in Plateau state, where flood killed scores of people, Dr. Morohunkeji Oyeleke, the Deputy Director (Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management) of the ministry, said this could be so because, weather forecast is based on probability.

In the new prediction released in Abuja today, Oyeleke listed states such as Kebbi, Nasarawa, Imo, Kwara, Edo, Benue, Ebonyi, Katsina, Jigawa, Plateau, Gombe, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Taraba, Niger, Zamfara, Yobe, Oyo Sokoto, Adamawa as flood prone states.

Oyeleke appealed to the governments of the identified states to take all the necessary precautionary measures to avoid flood disasters, adding that similar warnings in the past had saved the people’s lives and properties.

She said that the ministry had been receiving verbal reports from various state governments on how the weather forecasts had been helpful in efforts to initiate proactive measures to prevent loss of lives and properties.

Besides, Oyeleke said that an alert had been sent to some areas which were likely to experience windstorm during the rainy season.

The Flood prone areas state by state:
Kebbi: Argungu, Bungudu, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo and Birni-Kebbi.
Nasarawa: Keffi and its environs
Imo: Okigwe
Kwara: New-Bussa,
Edo: Sabongida-Ora
Benue: Buruku
Ebonyi: Echara-Onu and its environs
Katsina: Daura, Yelwa, Katsina, Funtua, Jibia, Bakori and Bundawa,
Jigawa:Dutse, Gumel, Gwaram, Hadejia, Miga,Mallam Fatori and Ringim
Plateau: Bukuru and Shelleng
Gombe: Gombe and Nafida
Borno: Damasak, Kukawa, Biu and Briyel
Kaduna: Birnin Gwari, Jemaa, Kachia, Kaduna, Kafanchan, Kapa Madaki, Shanga, Zaria, Kauru and Shanga in Kaduna State;
Kano: Bebeji, Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Sumaila, Tudun-Wada and Wudi
Bauchi: Azare, Bajoga, Darazo, Yelwa, Jamaare, Itas, Katagum, Kirfi and Misau
Taraba: Mutum-Biyu, Lau, Gembu and Beli
Niger: Bida, Rijau, Sarki Pawa, Jebba and Kotangora
Zamfara: Kaura-Namoda, Maru, Maradun, Gusau, Bukwium
Yobe: Damaturu, Machina, Gashua, Dapchi, Potiskum, Kanama ;
Adamawa: Yorro, Yola, Song, Numan, Mubi, Mayo-Belwa, Jimeta, Gainye and Demsa
Sokoto: Gada, Goronyo, Gummi, Isa, Makira, Kargiwa, Shagari, Silame, Sokoto and Wamakko
Oyo: Eleyele, Challenge, Moniya, Bodija, Odo-ona.