The relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the general public were alerted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on Tuesday on impending severe and prolonged rain falls in several regions of the nation.
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Mansur Bako Matazu, issued this warning in Abuja during a news conference called to inform the populace of the prevalent weather patterns seen around the country as well as preventative measures.
According to unofficial accounts, the forecast made public during the conference was part of the organization's purpose to continuously observe and analyse rainfall events across the nation. It covered the months of August, September, and October 2022.
He stated that the northern states of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, much of Kebbl and Gombe, Kaduna, and the Adamawa States are predicted to have rainfall conditions above normal.
The head of NiMet said that normal to above normal rainfall conditions are anticipated for the majority of the southwestern states, including Lagos, Ogun, Osun, much of Oyo, Ondo, and portions of Ekiti and Edo states, while normal rainfall conditions are anticipated for the majority of Kaduna, Adamawa, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, and portions of Bauchi, Gombe, and Ondo states in the central states.
Additionally, according to Matazu, normal to below normal conditions are anticipated over the south-south and inland states, including Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu.
According to the NiMet boss, there maybe be a need for evacuation of some areas depending on their locations.
“If you live in flood-prone areas definitely you will be very prone to this, or if you live in a low land area. This information is better utilized by state emergency or what is supposed to be local emergency committees, they normally carry out vulnerability assessments and identify high-risk areas, based on the forecast, and then they advise. I know National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is coordinating temporary evacuation camps in collaboration with some state governments. The information is to effectively work with the vulnerable communities” he said.
The NiMet Chief Executive further advised that state and national emergency management agencies should intensify adaptation, mitigation, and response mechanisms.
“States that are expected to experience varying degrees of flood episodes are advised to begin their awareness campaigns through field extension workers for possible response activities, especially at the high-risk areas.
Measures to prevent mudslide disasters by relevant authorities, especially in the South East are advised to be put in place. Heed to other advisories by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and NEMA” he concluded.