The Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr Clement Nze, has expressed worry over the slow response by most states when flood warnings are issued.
He expressed his concerns on Thursday, May 6, 2021 in Abuja on the sidelines of the public presentation of the 2021 Annual Flood Outlook.
He said that states have over the years maintained a carefree attitude towards these flood warnings.
Nze stated that from predictions, using historical data,121 local government areas in 27 states including FCT are very likely to experience flooding this year.
‘We will be updating the states on what’s going to happen in the course of the year.
“We did a press release few months ago, the Minister of Water Resources interfaces with the governors to alert them.
“Last year, the minister sent a letter to all the state governors in Nigeria and informed them in details of what to expect, yet not too many states are doing something about it.’’
According to Nze, the states do not seem to be perturbed.
“It could be avoided or eliminated, the tempo of political activities they exhibited during the elections should be replicated in tackling this disturbing issue of flooding in the states.
“LGA councillors, should be able to domesticate this information in their own locations but this doesn’t happen.
“Once the disaster occurs, they are quick to cry to high heavens, but in terms of reducing the impact of flooding before it occurs, they don’t seem to be doing much.
“I recalled that in 2016 and 2017, I engaged some state agencies one on one, and we were told not to tell them what will happen unless we have relief materials,’’ Nze said.
By Patricia Amogu
