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Tag: Flood

  • Photos/Videos: Flood takes over Lagos as heavy downpour wreaks havoc

    Photos/Videos: Flood takes over Lagos as heavy downpour wreaks havoc

    Lagosians on Thursday are already counting their losses in what seems like an introductory session into the rainy sessions.

    As usual, the roads are flooded and traffic built up in no time. People struggled to get to work in the morning and are more likely to face a much difficult time returning home. Properties have been destroyed and some residents have been sacked from their homes.

    In highbrow Lekki axis, the damages are more.

    The social media is already awashed with lamentations of residents who fell victim of the damages of the early downpour.

    https://twitter.com/odufanelson/status/1273496353499492357?s=20

  • Start early preparations for 2020 flooding season, FG warns Nigerians

    Clement Nze, Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHISA), has called on stakeholders to start preparing for the 2020 flooding season in order to avoid the ‘Fire Brigade Approach’.

    Nze, who gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja during NHISA’s 2020 maiden news conference, noted that when flood mitigating practices were put in place, the effects of flooding would be minimised.

    “We are here to use this medium to inform Nigerians, stakeholders, the state governments in particular and individuals that this is the right time you can prepare for flooding.

    “The state government and local government areas should avoid what we call generally the ‘Fire Brigade Approach’ when the rain is already here.

    “So various governments of Nigeria should begin to prepare for possible flooding for 2020, open up the drainages, or create drainage paths where there are none.

    “Remove the structures that are within the flood plains, and let there be adequate drainage paths,” he said.

    Nze recalled that on Jan. 21, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) released its 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP), to tell Nigerians when the rains will start, the earliest onset and the cessation date.

    He said: “In their prediction, they said the onset of the rainy season in the southern part of Nigeria will be starting from Feb. 24, and in the North, like Sokoto and Katsina, the earliest will be June 22.

    “And then for the rainfall to begin to seize, because it starts seizing from the North, according to their prediction, from September 26, it will start seizing from the North downwards to the south, by Dec 28.

    “This year the rainfall, from their prediction, will start early and end within the normal time, it means we are going to have a longer period of rainfall if the prediction goes through or things go on as predicted, there will be a longer spell of rainfall but we are monitoring it.”

    The DG noted that so many factors enhance flooding, the rainfall being the major input and other factors being the geology and topography of an area.

    According to him, flooding can also occur even when the rainy season in Nigeria has stopped.

    He said: “Sometimes they can be flooding in Nigeria when the rains have stopped, for instance, last year when the rains had seized in Nigeria in early November, Cameroon opened the Laos Dam on the 10th of October.

    “I kept calling the Cameroon authorities, asking did you release water, they said no, meanwhile their Laos Dam was open from October 10 to October 31, complete three weeks.

    “Adamawa was submerged, a greater part of it, Taraba, Benue and eventually Kogi State, in the dry spell in Nigeria, when rainfall has seized, so when they open their dam and there is no rainfall in their own territory, flooding will occur.”

    NHISA is responsible for monitoring all the major rivers in Nigeria, including the Transboundary Rivers Niger and Benue.

    Its mandate, among others, is the provision of information and services required for efficient and sustainable management of the nation’s vast surface and groundwater resources including the security of life, property and water-related hazards such as floods and droughts.

  • Flood destroys 4,370 houses, displace 51,000 people in 212 communities in C/River

    The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said flood destroyed 4,370 houses and displaced over 51,000 people in 212 communities in the state.

    The Director General of SEMA, Mr Princewill Ayim, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Calabar.

    Ayim said that the incident occurred between July and September, adding that measures were taken to provide succour for the victims.

    According to him, some of the victims abandoned their homes for safety, as the incident had brought untold hardship on them.

    He mentioned some of the affected local government areas to include Boki, Etung, Biase, Calabar South, Calabar Municipal, Ogoja among others.

    He told NAN that some agencies intervened by providing relief materials to the affected victims across the state to ameliorate their plight.

    The DG commended the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency for donating relief materials to the victims at different occasions.

    He also disclosed that 19 cases of fire outbreaks were recorded in the state within the period under review, adding that property worth millions of Naira were destroyed in the incident.

    “Between July to September, flood destroyed 4,370 houses and displaced over 51,000 people in 212 communities in Cross River. Some of the victims built their houses along the water channel and so they could not escape the flooding.

    “Others had poor drainage systems around their locality while some of them were dumping their refuse inside the drains, making it difficult for water to flow freely.

    “We have carried out massive awareness campaigns to enlighten residents in the state to stop building along water channels and stop dumping their refuse inside the drains,’’ he said.

    He explained that Gov. Ben Ayade of the state had at different times provided relief materials to the victims.

  • Just In: 200 inmates escape as Kogi prison wall collapses

    Just In: 200 inmates escape as Kogi prison wall collapses

    The early Monday morning downpour in Koton-Karfe, Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State, has made way for the escape of about 200 prisoners from the Medium Federal Correctional Centre.

    This follows the collapse of parts of the building housing inmates.

    Several houses in the area were also submerged.

    A source at the correctional facility, however, told newsmen that about 100 of the escapees have been rearrested.

    The source added that an unspecified number voluntarily returned.

    It was gathered that the downpour which lasted hours started around 2a.m, destroying many houses inluding parts of the correctional center, in its wake.

    The Acting Chief Imam of Koton-Karfi central mosque, Saidu Suleiman Nuhu, said that the heavy downpour led to the River Osugu overflowing itself, flooding the embarkment and destroy so many houses, including a part of the correctional centre.

    A source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, however disclosed that about 100 of the inmates that escaped have been rearrested by the security agents.

  • Flood sacks 40 villages in Adamawa

    Flood sacks 40 villages in Adamawa

    No fewer than 40 villages have been sacked by flood in Adamawa, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Dr Muhammad Sulaiman, the Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), confirmed this to NAN on Saturday in Yola.

    Sulaiman said the development followed heavy downpour recorded in the last three days in some parts of the state.

    He said majority of the affected villages were on the bank of River Benue, with farmlands and houses seriously affected.

    “In August this year, we lost 15 persons, hundreds of people were internally displaced, and thousands of farmlands and domestic animals were lost to the flood.

    “Now within the last three days, over 40 villages in five local government areas of Adamawa were over-run by flood following heavy torrential rainfall.

    “The affected local government areas include Fufore, Yola South, Demsa, Numan and Girei,” the ADSEMA boss said.

    He urged the federal agencies and United Nations Organisations who promised assistance to the victims of the August flooding to redeem their pledge.

    Sulaiman noted that currently the level of water in the River Benue was high and many villages are cut off from the rest of the state.

    He said that there was possibility of more flooding, adding that officials of the agency had been sent to some affected areas to assess the level of damage.

    On the speculations that the recent flood is linked to the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun, the ADSEMA boss said that he was unaware.

    “There has been no official communication between Nigeria and the Cameroun Government that water is going to be released from Lagdo Dam.

    “However, the recent high volume of water in the River Benue is unusual,” Sulaiman said.

    Mr Haley Gajere, a farmer from Bilachi Village in Demsa Local Government Area, told NAN that the village was completely over-run by the flood.

    Gajere said that the residents were taking refuge in neighbouring villages, adding that their rice and maize farmlands had been completely washed away.

    “On Friday, we harvested one of our rice farms of about three hectares along the bank of River Benue with the intention of conveying it back home on Saturday.

    “However, as I speak to you now, our houses have been submerged; we cannot even trace the farm location, because everywhere is flooded,” Gajere said.

    NAN reports that the displaced villages in Demsa include Mbula Bilachi, Morro 1, Morro 2 and Mbumara.

    Others are Tika 1, Tika 2, Kunteri, Kuli, Tassala, and Kulasala among others.

    In Fufore, the affected villages include Riko, Faram-Faram, Gurore Ribadu, Tumbi’nde, Dulo Bate, and Dulo Fulani among others.

  • Lagos alerts residents on rise in sea water level, flooding of low line areas

    Lagos State Government has alerted residents on the rise of sea water level resulting in the inability of the lagoon to discharge water into the ocean.

    The development, it said, is causing backflow into the drainage channels.

    A statement by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, however assured officials are working on different measures to remove the constriction and blockades that would allow easy passage for the resultant flooding.

    Bello also stated Lagos is in talks with the officials of the Ogun Osun River Basin Authority, which is releasing water to do so gradually.

    He explained that the rise in sea level has contributed to current flooding in many parts of Ikoyi, V.I, Dolphin and Oworoshoki because the lagoon cannot discharge, causing back flow into drainage outlets.

    He said the officials of the Drainage Department had expected it to go down by evening, hinting from the look of things may last throughout the weekend.

    The Commissioner further said the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority can no longer hold the Oyan dam, forcing it to release its water causing rise in Ogun River.

    The rise, according to him, has affected low line areas like Isheri North and Magodo and up to Owode Onirin.

    Bello said until the ocean level goes down, the lagoon cannot discharge water into the ocean, causing back flow into all the drainage outlets in the state

  • Flood sweeps 11-year-old boy, rescuer to death in Lagos

    Flood sweeps 11-year-old boy, rescuer to death in Lagos

    Tragedy struck residents of Aboru and Iyana-Ipaja in Alimosho area of Lagos on Saturday as flood swept away an 11-year-old boy and his rescuer, one Wasiu into a canal linking Aburo and Iyana-Ipaja on Ige Road.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the scene of the accident observed huge crowd wearing long faces due to the unfortunate incident that occurred following the overflow of the canal.

    It was gathered that two young boys sent by their parents to buy cooking gas at a gas station unknowingly fell into the drain through which water passed into the canal.

    “Three young men attempted rescuing the boys and succeeded in rescuing the older one, but one of the rescuers popularly known as Wasiu Stubborn was swept away while trying to rescue the other victim,” eyewitnesses told the NAN.

    Speaking to NAN at the scene, Mr Solomon Agboghoroma, a Community Development Association leader in Oki town, regretted the development, blaming the failure of government to construct a bridge in the area for such incidents.

    Agboghoroma, who recounted the ordeals of landlords and residents of the area anytime it rained, said that there was the need to expand Aboru road and build a bridge at Cement Bud Stop to forestall recurrence of such tragedy.

    “This rain started almost four or five days ago but the one of last night was one of the heaviest and it started at about 2:15 am and by 3:15am, it came with full force and everwhere was flooded.

    “At about 7:30 am or 8:00am, we learnt that an OPC member, who was security guard in one of the gas stations here was carried away by flood while trying to rescue two children who came to buy gas, but fell into the drain.

    “The gas station had not opened because of the flood as the whole place including the canal had overflowed its banks.

    “The children misplaced their legs and the two of them fell inside the gutter. This OPC boy went and rescued one but in the process of rescuing the second child, he and the boy fell into the canal and that was the end,” Agboghoroma said.

    He blamed the government for the tragedy, saying that several petitions had been written to successive governments in the state from the time of former Gov. Babatunde Fashola to the last administration of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    “People have been dying in situation like this here and all landlords have tried, including raising almost N4 million for dredging of the canal.

    “The government knows what to do when it is ready because this canal contract was award sometime in 2011 or 2012. When we taxed ourselves, Fashola came and commended us and promised palliative and government takeover.

    ” The government should come and do the bridge as against this culvert that is here. This flat culvert cannot contain water. The government should widening this road and ensure the canal is dug for the peace and safety of residents,” he added.

    Mr Suleiman Adedokun, an eye witness and a shop owner beside the canal, told NAN that the rescuer, named “Wasiu Stubborn “, entered the drain to rescue the boy but the flood swept both of them away into the canal.

    “Wasiu tried, succeeded in catching the second boy but his effort to come out of the drain proved futile as it was not easy for him due to the force of the water.

    “It is the bad road and narrow culvert that caused these deaths because these two children that fell inside the drain didn’t know it was there as water covered everywhere,” Adedokun said.

    A furniture maker, Mr Gift Wejem, who decried the tragedy, said that flood had severally swept away furniture, materials, machines and generator whenever the canal overflowed its bank.

    An officer of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LSNC), who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said that the agency got the information at about 9:00 am that flood carried away one Mr Wasiu a.k.a, stubborn while trying to rescue two children.

    He said that the LSNC had made efforts and called relevant agencies of government, who he said might arrive the scene anytime.

    “We are trying to locate the parents of the children and also to contact the family of Wasiu,” the LNSC officer said .

  • Flood invades Lagos community, traps pupils in school

    Flood invades Lagos community, traps pupils in school

    A vicinity in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, was submerged in flood water, capturing some students in a Nursery and Primary school in the area following the persistent heavy downpour yesterday.

    The heavy rainfall, which started as early as 8 am, affected both human and vehicular activities as most parts of the state was taken over by floods. As a result, motorists and commuters were trapped in traffic across the state.

    A concerned resident of Orile-Agege, one of the worst hit areas said the pupils of Ladoje Nursery and Primary School in the area could not leave the premises because of the intensity of the rain.

    Meanwhile, the State Government earlier assured residents not to panic at the sight of the flood, as it would soon recede as all efforts are on ground to ensure the safety of lives and property as well as flood-free Lagos, in spite of persistent rainfall.

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said that there’s no excuse for road users to break traffic rules by taking one-way and going against traffic.

     

  • Ondo declares three-week holiday as floods submerge schools

    Many schools and communities have been submerged by floods in Ondo State, Southwest Nigeria, as a result of the unabated torrential rains being experienced in many parts of the country.

    This made the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to direct public primary and secondary schools submerged by the floods to proceed on three weeks of holiday from Monday.

    Mr Donald Ojogo, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, in a release on Saturday, said the directive followed flash floods which affected most flood-prone areas in the state, especially the riverside communities.

    According to the commissioner, “the order becomes necessary in order to forestall possible attendant incidents that may likely affect lives of vulnerable pupils in those areas as a result of the floods.

    “It is also aimed at protecting valuables from avoidable destruction.

    “All Head Teachers and Principals are to enforce this directive and, in particular, ensure that all perishable educational materials are evacuated while government works out remedial logistics, believing that the floods would recede within the period of the three weeks holiday,” Ojogo said

  • Many trapped, one missing as flood wrecks havoc in Ibadan

    Many trapped, one missing as flood wrecks havoc in Ibadan

    A middle-aged man whose identity was still unknown was washed away on Thursday night by flood at Oluyole, in Ibadan South West Local Government area of Oyo state following a torrential downpour in the city.

    Many areas of the city were flooded, while scores of people were said to have been trapped when bridges and culverts were rendered impassable by the surging flood.

    A lot of roads, bridges, and culverts were damaged, while some people lost their personal belongings.

    Other areas that were affected by the flood are Alaro, Zartech, Oluyole extension, Idi-Ayunre, Olodo, New Garagge , parts of Gbekuba area, Apata, and Omi Adio , in Ido Local Government Area of the state.

    At Alaro, Zartech area of Oluyole extension, the only bridge that links the people to the city was completely submerged by water, while many residents were prevented from gaining access to their homes.

    The victim of about six hours rain was said to have been washed away by the flood when he attempted to cross a submerged bridge at the Sumal area of Oluyole Industrial extension .

    People were seen around the area early Thursday still searching for the victim, however, the water level was still on the high side, yet to subside.

    According to eyewitness account, efforts of rescuer were undermined by the heavy downpour, as sympathisers were prevented from searching for the victim due to the rising level of water.

    The state government has sympathised with the victims of the flood , and promised to do everything possible to mitigate such occurrence in the future.

    The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources , Hon. Kehinde Ayoola who spoke with The Nation yesterday on the flood disaster admitted that there were damages to bridges, culverts and roads by the flashes of flood on Wednesday , but said he was yet to receive report of the missing person.

    ” The area you just mentioned, the Alaro area, Oluyole extension area, yes, there were flashes of flood there and it also happened at Joyce B , at Olodo area of Egbeda, and at an area called Jenriyin , Kute community , in Lagelu Local Government Area. So, we have been there to make an on the spot assessment, and we have taken note of what to be done to the hydrological infrastructures there in those places .

    ” For example, culverts, bridges and water channels, we have taken note of what the government can do. And we have also appealed to our people that they should stop dropping refuse in waterways , we have also appealed to them not to wade through water floods and they should always evacuate anywhere when there is heavy rain and flood. The government is on top of the situation.

    ” There are damages to bridges, culverts and roads, fine, yes that is true, and water entered people’s homes, we sympathise with such people and we are doing everything humanly possible to ensure this doesn’t occur again, ” he stated.