According to Channels TV, the Federal Government has issued a fresh flood warning for Nigeria as water levels at Jebba Dam continue to rise, prompting excess water spillovers. The Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, stated that this development is a result of the ongoing regulated release of water from Kainji Dam.

The Kainji Dam operators had previously maintained a 53cm buffer in anticipation of rising water levels, but have now begun releasing the excess water to manage the inflow. This action is part of the routine regulation aimed at preventing the dams from overflowing, though it signals the potential for flooding in downstream communities.

NIHSA’s warning follows earlier predictions that heavy rains and increased dam activities could lead to widespread flooding in vulnerable areas across the country. Communities living along riverbanks and flood-prone zones have been advised to relocate to higher grounds and take necessary precautions to mitigate the effects of potential floods.

“NIHSA through the Director Operational Hydrology Pastor Femi Bejide, is working in close contact with the operators of Kainji and Jebba Dams on the management of the reservoirs”

“The rain is gradually shifting to the south, however, there is still some amount of water coming into Nigeria as monitored from our station at Jidere Bode and Kende” he emphasised.

Highlighting the agency’s synergy with the authorities of the Dams both nationally and internationally, he maintained that NIHSA is committed to managing great River flooding incidences to foster socio-economic growth in Nigeria.

Mohammed also revealed that the water level in the River Niger Basin has slowly receded since the beginning of October.

He called on Nigerians to continue to adhere to flood preparedness protocols, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to the overall flood management in Nigeria.

The warning comes following recent reports on the worst flooding incidents in the history of Nigeria, with the capital of Borno State, Maiduguri taking the lead.