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Flood Ravages Kano, NIMET Issues Red Alert On 11 States Over Imminent Floods

According to the Kano State Relief and Emergency Agency (SREA), at least 5,300 houses were destroyed by flood in six Local Government Areas of Kano State.

According to the Kano State Relief and Emergency Agency (SREA), at least 5,300 houses were destroyed by flood in six Local Government Areas of Kano State.

The local governments affected inclue Bebeji, Dawakin Kudu, Kiru Shanono, Bagwai and Garun Mallam, according to Mr. Aliyu Bashir, Executive Secretary of SREA.

Mr. Bashir revealed that the State Government will come to the aid of the flood victims as a provisional measure, as soon as the SREA concludes and submits its report.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) yesterday issued red alert regarding floods in 11 states in Nigeria.

In a statement released to journalists in Abuja, the agency named Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Bornu, Cross River, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Yobe and Zamfara States on flooding in the month of August.

The agency urged the state governments to be proactive in handling the impending floods.

The statement which was signed by NIMET spokesperson, Eva Azinge, said, “After thorough analyses of rainfall data from our observatories nationwide for June and July, soil moisture has either reached saturation, or near saturation levels.”

“This is due to cumulative high-intensity rainfall in some parts of the country in June and July.

“This means that floods should be expected in these areas because the soil is no longer able to absorb more rainwater in the coming weeks which coincide with the peak rainy season.”

“NIMET advises Governments, communities and individuals in these vulnerable parts of the country to take proactive actions, such as clearing water channels, drainages and avoid activities that will block the free flow of waters.

“"NIMET in exercise of its mandate to monitor the weather and climate of the country at all times and working in collaboration with the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA), has been monitoring rainfall events across the country," the statement noted.”

According to Mrs. Azinge, “these observations and projections are also in agreement with the 2016 Annual Flood Outlook that was released by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.”

Mr. Moses Beckley, the Director-General of the NHSA, had earlier predicted an overflow of the Niger-Benue River Basins and other sub-basins, in the rainy season. He made the prediction at the official presentation of the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) in Abuja on July 25, 2016, stating that flooding would most likely affect the states surrounding the basins.

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Environment