PUNCH

The Middle Niger of the River Niger Basin is currently flooded and the magnitude of flood from this area is expected to arrive in Nigeria through Kebbi State around September 6, 2020, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has predicted.

At least, 102 local government areas in 28 states fall within the highly probable flood risk areas, according to the agency.

It said parts of 275 local government areas in the 36 states of the federation, including Abuja, were within the moderately probable flood risk areas, while the remaining 397 local government areas were within the low probable flood risks areas.

The agency’s Director-General, Clement Nze, told our correspondent in Abuja that the NIHSA had received a red alert about the looming flooding of the river from Niamey in Niger Republic.

“The red alert points to imminent river flooding in Nigeria. Both the Kainji and Jebba dams have commenced spilling water downstream,” he said.

Providing an update on the development regarding flood situations in the Niger Basin, Nze explained that the River Niger Basin covered nine countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

He said Nigeria was at the lowest portion of the basin.

Nze added, “This means that once the upper catchment of the basin gets flooded, Nigeria should be prepared to experience flooding incidents.

“As of today, the Middle Niger of the Niger Basin made up of Niger, Benin, Burkina Faso and part of Mali, have been flooded. The flood levels at the hydrological stations monitored in Niamey and Malanville (Benin Republic) have got to the red alert zone.