The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has called on Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states to evacuate people living along river banks to safer places ahead of the predicted flood.
The Director General of the Agency, Clement O. Nze, who called for the urgent evacuation of people from the flood prone States during the sensitisation workshop on 2019 Flood Prediction, Prevention and Mitigation in hydrological areas which comprises Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states said the flood might occur between July and September this year.
He said eight local government areas of Kebbi State, Aliero, Argungu, Augie, Bagudo, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza , Ngaski and Shanga are prone to flood this year.
Similarly, he noted that in Sokoto State: Gwadabawa, Goronyo, Isa, Kware, Rabah, Shagari, Bodinga, Tureta, Silami, Dange-Shuni, Wurno, Yabo and Wamako are flood risk areas while in Zamfara, Birnin-Magaji, Kiyawa, Bakura, Bungudu, Shinkagi, Gusau, Kaura-Namoda and Marafun are probable flood risk.
He added that, in Niger State, Agwara, Magama would also experience the same while in Katsina State, Murawa and Katsina might experience same.
He said “We wish to implore the good people of these states and stakeholders to relocates people living along waterways and those that are having socio— economic activities on the flood plains.”
He advised local government areas of the affected states to embark on desilting of river channels, canals, and regular clearing of drainage channels to allow for free flow of run-off water.
He stated that they should strive to construct buffer in their respective constituencies to collects run-off water.
Earlier, the guest speaker, Dr. Murtala Abubakar Gada from Geography Department of Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, observed that over 70 million people were exposed to flooding globally while 800 million people were living along flood prone areas.
He said flooding could be averted if waterways that were prone to flooding are well managed.
