As the rainy season intensifies, thousands of families across Nigeria are once again urged to prepare for possible flooding.
The Federal Ministry of Environment has issued a fresh flood prediction, warning that several communities across twenty-two states and the Federal Capital Territory could experience flooding between the 2nd and 15th of August.
According to the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre, heavy rainfall, saturated soils, rising river levels, and poor drainage may combine to trigger flooding in many locations.
Communities in Benue, Kogi, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Anambra, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Edo and several other states have been classified under varying levels of flood risk.
Some of the worst-hit locations are expected to include Makurdi, Lokoja, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Warri, Calabar, Onitsha, Aba, Owerri, Benin City, Lagos and parts of Ibadan.
For residents who have previously lost homes, farms, businesses, and livelihoods to flooding, the warning is a reminder that preparation can save lives.
Every rainy season, floodwaters leave behind stories of displacement, damaged property, and shattered livelihoods. This latest warning is giving vulnerable communities a window of opportunity to act before disaster strikes.
Officials say clearing blocked drains, moving valuables to safer locations, and strictly obeying evacuation directives could make the difference between safety and tragedy.
The Federal Ministry of Environment is urging residents in critical-risk communities to stay away from floodplains, riverbanks, and drainage channels, while state emergency agencies are expected to intensify monitoring of rivers, culverts and other vulnerable infrastructure.
Residents have also been advised to avoid driving or walking through floodwaters, disconnect electricity where flooding is imminent, and secure important documents, food supplies, and drinking water.
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Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
