The Federal Government has issued a cautionary alert regarding the impending flooding of the Niger and Benue rivers, urging states potentially at risk to take necessary precautions.
The warning was delivered during a press briefing on Friday by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, in response to recent catastrophic flooding that has devastated parts of Maiduguri and Jere in Borno State.
“The attention of Nigerians is hereby drawn to the probable river flooding on rivers Niger and Benue and some of their tributaries,” Utsev stated. He added that the daily flow levels on these rivers have shown significant increases, now approaching the “RED alert” threshold. “This warning means that a large volume of water is moving through our rivers down to the delta region,” he said, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and proactive measures to mitigate potential flooding in southern states.
This warning comes on the heels of the recent flood disaster in Borno, where the overflow of the Alau Dam contributed to severe flooding in Maiduguri recently reported by NaijaTimesUSA. Following the federal government’s warning, several state governments have heightened their preparedness to ensure the safety of their citizens.
As part of the government’s proactive response, the federal government has also initiated the dredging of the downstream section of the Ogun River to create a more efficient discharge route for excess water releases from the Oyan Dam.
The aim is to prevent flooding in communities in Ogun and Lagos States. The 10-kilometer dredging project was officially flagged off on Friday, with the site handed over to the contracting firm, Lanum Integrated Services Ltd, at the Ikorodu–Isheri stretch of the Ogun River.
This project, which is being managed by the Ogun Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), is a critical measure to avert flooding incidents similar to those experienced in Maiduguri. The dredging effort, the government stated, is key to avoiding a replication of the disaster that resulted from the failed Alau Dam in Borno State.
