6 JUly 2023
Following the heavy rainfall predicted for July in some states as the Federal Government warning to the citizens living near natural waterways, flood plains, and erosion spots, State governments have directed residents living around flood plains and erosion spots to vacate these danger zones before it is too late.
In a statement on Wednesday, the National Emergency Management Agency warned that 14 states and 31 communities might witness heavy rainfall that could lead to flooding from July 4 to July 8.
The Territorial Coordinator, NEMA, Lagos Territorial Office, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye Farinloye, urged relevant stakeholders within the states concerned to take precautionary measures to forestall the loss of lives and property.
The communities are Langtang, Shendam in Plateau State; Sumaila, Tudun Wada in Kano; Shagari, Goronyo, Silame in Sokoto; Okwe, Delta State; Kachia, Kaduna State; Upenekang in Akwa Ibom; Mubi, Demsa, Song, Mayo-Belwa, Jimeta and Yola in Adamawa State and Katsina, Jibia, Kaita, Bindawa all in Katsina State.
Others include Wara, Yelwa, and Gwandu in Kebbi; Shinkafi and Gummi in Zamfara; Briyel, Borno State; Gwaram in Jigawa; Jebba, Kwara State and Mashegu, Kontagora in Niger State.
Farinloye thanked the Flood Early Warning System Central Hub of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja, for sharing the information.
Flood kills toddler
However, the impact of the flooding is already being felt as a one-year-old boy drowned in a downpour in Katsina on Tuesday night.
The rain began a few minutes before 4 pm and ended shortly after 10pm.
The Executive Secretary for the State Emergency Management Agency, Hajiya Binta Dangani, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
She explained that the deceased’s mother was carrying him on her shoulder when he slipped from her hands and fell into the flood which swept him away.
The SEMA boss said, “The mother of the boy was carrying him on her shoulder while she had another baby strapped to her back. Unfortunately, the boy slipped from the mother’s shoulder and fell into the flood while efforts to rescue him failed. The house where the incident happened is close to a stream.
