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Tag: Flood

  • LASG moves to deflood Lagos Island

    LASG moves to deflood Lagos Island

    The Lagos State Government has set up an ad-hoc pumping station at Adeniji Adele underbridge to alleviate flooding in Aroloya Street, Ojo-Giwa, Binuyo, Oroyinyin, and surrounding areas.

    The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made this known in a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina on Thursday in Lagos.

    Wahab said the move was part of the state’s efforts to address the temporary blockage of drains caused by ongoing construction work on Lagos Island.

    He added that the choice of Adeniji Adele underbridge for the pumping station was informed by the need not to disrupt the ongoing construction works in the listed areas.

    He said the measure would provide relief to the affected residents and business owners.

    He said: “The flooding was caused by a temporary blockage of the drains in the area as a result of the ongoing constructions, which was part of the total regeneration of Lagos island.

    “I urge business owners and residents to be patient with the state government as we work to complete this crucial regeneration project, which will ultimately benefit the community.”

    The commissioner added that the construction would be completed in a very short time and urged  stakeholders to contribute to the success of the project.

    He encouraged residents to properly dispose of their waste according to guidelines set by the Lagos State Government.

    “It should be noted that the state government has approved a total regeneration of Lagos Island; to include improving and expanding the drainage infrastructures.

    “These are primary and secondary channels, constructing pumping stations with smart sensors for flood control,” he said.

    He said the project also included promoting sustainable urban regeneration by reconstructing major roads within the area to address tidal challenges.

    “We appeal for the cooperation  of the residents and business owners with the contractors.

    “However, while efforts are being made to minimise inconveniences, occasional disruptions may occur.

    “Everyone must be rest assured that the welfare of Lagosians is paramount to the government,” he said.

  • Flood: Search for missing people continues in Spain

    Flood: Search for missing people continues in Spain

    The search for missing people in the area of eastern Spain hit by severe flooding continued on Monday, almost a week after the disaster claimed more than 200 lives. Attention is now focused on a shopping centre in Aldaia, a suburb of the provincial capital Valencia.

    Water is being pumped out of the underground car park where it is feared more bodies may be discovered. The authorities said people should not believe exaggerated reports of further deaths.

    Aldaia Mayor Guillermo Luján on the state broadcaster RTVE  “the emergency services have already searched around 20 vehicles but found no bodies.

    “We estimate that there were fewer than 100 vehicles parked there at the time of the flooding.”

    The official death toll currently stands at 217, of which 213 are in the province of Valencia alone.

    Many people are still missing, but no official figure has been released.

    Some media outlets have been reporting that many hundreds of people are missing, but there are no sources for these figures.

    “We should not speculate,” said the Minister for territorial policy, Ángel Víctor Torres who added: “We have to proceed seriously.”

    Meanwhile, the clean-up and rescue efforts are picking up speed.

    On Monday, more than 7,500 military personnel were on the scene, in addition to around 10,000 police officers from the Policía Nacional and the Guardia Civil.

    They were supported by the fire brigade and civil defence, as well as by countless volunteers.

    Some districts in Valencia received as much rain in a few hours last week as they would normally get in a whole year.

    On Monday, Spain’s weather service Aemet issued further severe weather warnings for parts of Catalonia in the northeast and Extremadura in the west of the country.

    Flood: Ancelotti says competitions should have been suspended in Spain

    Football in Spain should have been completely suspended after the worst flash floods in decades swept the eastern region of Valencia last week, killing at least 215 people, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday.

    Real’s visit to Valencia on Saturday was one of the several LaLiga games postponed after the Spanish FA (RFEF) ordered to re-schedule all games scheduled for Valencia at the weekend in addition to seven cup ties last week.

    Ancelotti said it was nonsense that in other places of the country the competitions continued as expected and argued that there was no enthusiasm in Spain to play football at the moment.

    “Football is a party and you can only celebrate and party when you, your family and everybody is well… When people are not well, you don’t party,” Ancelotti told a press conference ahead of Real’s Champions League clash against AC Milan on Tuesday.

    “Football has to stop… For me it does. Because it is the most important of the least important things in life. But we are not the decision makers… We have to follow the instructions of those who are in charge.

    “There are many ways to help. Football had to stop and then help. Everyone has been clear about it, nobody wanted to play. It seemed like the right decision… I have no desire to talk about football today…”

    “It was supposed to be a special game for me, facing Milan… But there is no meaning in talking about football now,” Ancelotti said.

    “It has been a difficult week, not because of what happened with the Ballon d’Or or El Clasico… It happened and that’s that, congratulations to the winners. Our sadness is not about that, it is for what is happening here in Spain.” He added.

  • Woman trapped inside car freed after 3 days as Spain flood takes 211 lives

    Woman trapped inside car freed after 3 days as Spain flood takes 211 lives

    Emergency forces in Spain were able to rescue a woman trapped inside a car alongside the dead body of her sister-in-law for three days following the deadly flash floods in Spain, where the death toll has now climbed slightly to 211.

    Police in the municipality of Moncada shared a video on social media platform X on Saturday showing the president of Valencia’s civil defence, Martín Pérez, delivering the news of the woman’s rescue to employees amid applause.

    The woman is said to have been trapped in the vehicle in the municipality of Benetússer, south of the city of Valencia, for three days alongside the body of her sister-in-law, news agency Europapress reported citing the local Las Provincias newspaper.

    Rescue workers heard her screaming as they towed away cars stuck in a tunnel. The woman was taken for a medical examination, but no further details about her state were initially known.

    At least 211 people were killed in Tuesday’s storms and floods in Spain’s southern and eastern regions, most of them in the Valencia region, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Saturday after a meeting about response to the disaster.

    Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said earlier on Saturday that he expected the number to continue rising as rescue teams continued to conduct searches in the hardest-hit areas.

    There are fears that many more people will be found dead in cars swept away by the torrential rains that flooded towns and caused rivers to burst their banks earlier this week.

  • Bayelsa confirms receipt of N3bn from FG

    Bayelsa confirms receipt of N3bn from FG

    Bayelsa State Government has confirmed it received N3 billion flood prevention fund disbursed in August by the Federal Government to flood prone states.

    Mr Timiore Seipolou, Technical Adviser to Bayelsa Governor on Treasury and Accounts, disclosed this on Monday in Yenegoa while giving a breakdown of revenue profile of the state for August and September.

    Bayelsa is listed among the 21 states at risk of flooding by the National Emergency Management Agency’s 2024 Flood Alert.

    Highlights of the revenue figures showed that in August, Bayelsa earned more from exchange rate differential– the gains accruing due to sliding value or the naira in dollar denominated oil proceeds–than actual proceeds from oil.

    While Bayelsa’s oil derivation revenue was N 8.69 billion, 31 per cent; the state got N22.99 billion from exchange rate gains representing 46 per cent of the state’s revenue for August.

    According to Seipolou, statutory revenue from the Federation Accounts for the month under review stands at N 792.89 million

    He said the proceeds from Value Added Tax (VAT) 26 per cent of the revenue streams stood at N5.72 billion.

    The technical adviser said that Bayelsa earned N2.46 billion from internal sources, while the gross revenue from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) for August was N 28.36 billion.

    The figures indicate that the state spent a total of N6.56 billion for debt service obligations to commercial banks.

    He explained that cumulative revenue including proceeds from signature bonuses, revenue from sundry income from oil production came to N90.89 billion for the month under review.

    For the month of September, Seipolou noted that statutory revenue for Bayelsa was N 847.67 million.

    The state also raked in N10.75 billion, 36 per cent of revenue from exchange rate gains, while oil derivation revenue of N9.08 billion representing 30 per cent of total revenue that came to the coffers of the state.

    He said that proceeds from VAT were N5.58 billion, 19 per cent of total revenue, while Internally Generated Revenue for September stood at N2.58 billion.

  • JUST IN: Flood sparks humanitarian crisis in Benue, 770 households displaced

    JUST IN: Flood sparks humanitarian crisis in Benue, 770 households displaced

    No fewer than 770 households have been displaced by flood in Benue due to the rising water level that overflowed the banks of the River Benue, sparking a humanitarian crisis in the State.

    Mr Aondowase Kunde, Benue Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Friday in Makurdi.

    Kunde who is also the Chairman, Flood and Disaster Management Committee,  said that Makurdi was worse hit by the flood. He said that the displaced persons were taking refuge in temporary camps.

    “In most local government areas people  managed to stay beyond the river banks, but in Makurdi, approximately 770 households were displaced.

    “About 520 displaced households are taking shelter in  NKST Primary School Wadata, while 250 are in Gaadi Comprehensive Secondary School.

    “These individuals have been provided with  food and non-food items, including mattresses, containers, and rice, with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) offering continued support over the past two weeks.

    He expressed hope that with the receding water levels, the displaced persons should be able to return to their homes by next week.

    Kunde stated that the governor had ordered another assessment of the affected areas to confirm whether they were habitable.

    The commissioner said that some homes may need fumigation for potential dangerous reptiles like snakes as well as insects.

    “As a temporary measure, the governed directed that we should assess and repair flood-damaged houses and ensure that they are well maintained before residents return to their homes.

    “However, the government’s long-term plan is to construct houses in safer areas and relocate those living in flood-prone areas. The governor is committed to addressing these challenges, including post-flood recovery,” he said.

  • Fear grips Edo residents as flood uproots corpses from graves

    Fear grips Edo residents as flood uproots corpses from graves

    Residents of Udaba, a community in Edo State, are in fear over the devastating effect of flooding that has uncovered graves, flushing corpses out of their resting places.

    The flood, which has wreaked havoc across multiple communities, has left many in fear and distress.

    The impact is not limited to Udaba; other communities, including Anegbete, Ekperi, Osomhegbe, Ogoimeri, Iyowa, Ofukpu, Ifekhu, Agenebode, Ubiaja, and Ilushi, all within Etsako East, Etsako Central, and Esan South East local government areas, are also severely affected, PM News reports.

    Joseph Odemokpai, the Councillor representing Ward 8 in Etsako Central Local Government Area, confirmed the extent of the crisis.

    “In Udaba, some dead bodies have been washed away from the grave by the flood,” he said, stating the distressing reality faced by locals.

    In addition to the alarming displacement of corpses, the severe cold brought on by the flooding has claimed several lives.

    “Some persons have even died as a result of the severe cold due to the flood,” Odemokpai reported, emphasised the compounding dangers of the natural disaster.

    According to Odemokpai, “Houses, farmlands, and crops—such as cassava, rice, and yam—have been submerged, with farm produce, livestock, and personal property swept away by the devastating flood.”

    He said the flood situation remains critical, with water levels still high in the affected communities.

    “Entire areas are overwhelmed by floodwaters, and efforts are underway to relocate residents to safety camps.

    “Similar flooding has been reported in Ward 9 and Ward 10, affecting communities including Anegbete, Udochi, Ogomere, and Ifekhu, as well as Ofukpo, among others across the impacted local government areas.”

    Odemokpai added that while the local government councils are currently taking action, he urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EdoSEMA) to assist these communities.

  • Lagos raises alarm over threats of flash flood

    Lagos raises alarm over threats of flash flood

    The Lagos State Government has raised an alarm of renewed threats of flash flood in the state following the intensity of rainfall experienced in the state on Thursday. The government described Thursday’s downpour as the heaviest in many months.

    The State’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said this in a statement on Saturday. Wahab said the present situation was coupled with the release of water by the authorities of Oyan Dam.

    “The channels could no longer discharge into the rivers,” he said, adding that the intensity of the rainfalls between Wednesday and Thursday had led to the levels of the major rivers rising.

    “This is making it difficult for the major drainage channels to discharge until it goes down which is just happening gradually,” he said.

    Wahab said the latest flash flood advisory became necessary in view of the fact that the various data gathered from the weather monitoring stations showed that Thursday’s average and maximum values were the highest.

    “In the past few weeks, the overall conditions observed show there is a drastic increase in water level at our four gauge stations within the state.

    “We are aware that Ogun Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) is releasing water from two gates of the Oyan Dam as announced earlier.

    “A few days ago, at Kara (calibrated), the water level recorded 2.2m and which most likely might hit the threshold any time soon.

    “At Isheri-North GRA, the water level recorded 20.02m which is above the flood threshold. These shows that the catchment areas along these axes are already experiencing river flooding.

    “At Majidun, in the whole year, the peak water level was recorded on the October 14 at 1.466m while the minimum value was at 0.538m.

    “At Falomo, with the incessant rainfall coupled with water releases from the OORBDA, both upstream and downstream of Lagos State will definitely experience flooding along the corridors,” Wahab said.

    The commissioner noted that data available for the year showed that the month of October had much higher readings compared to previous months.

    He added that minutes and hourly readings for October showed consistently heightened water level readings when compared to previous months and other years.

    He advised people living in low lying areas and the banks of the Ogun River to put their safety first by moving upland and prevent avoidable loss of lives and properties. Wahab, however, warned that the state would still experience more rainfalls this month.

  • Delta restates commitment to supporting flood victims

    Delta restates commitment to supporting flood victims

    The Delta State Government on Saturday restated its commitment to supporting flood victims in the State.

    Sir Festus Ahon, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori, gave the assurance while speaking to newsmen in Asaba.

    He said government would not abandon flood victims across the state as rising water level threatened those living in coastal communities.

    According to Ahon, Gov. Oborevwori remained committed to ensuring that all residents of the state were protected and catered for in line with his administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda.

    He called on those living in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher grounds as the government was making adequate arrangements to accommodate them at the Internally Displaced ( IDP) Camps nearest to them.

    Ahon said: “As soon as we got the warning on the impending flood, our hard working Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori set up a high-powered Flood Management Committee, headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu.

    “The Committee went straight to work and we have been alerting residents living in such flood-prone areas to move to higher grounds.

    “In the interim, we are setting up IDP camps in Asaba, Kwale, Patani, Ozoro and Otu-Jeremi for the people to move in.”

    He said that Flood management Committee, in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had gone round coastal communities to enlighten the people on the upcoming flood and the need for them to move to nearest camps.

    “As a responsible government, the Oborevwori’s administration is committed to ensuring the safety of lives of all residents across the state.

    “As a committee, we have made arrangements for mattresses, feeding, electricity, water and medicals for the IDPs and we urge them to relocate to the camps nearest to them.

    “Aside from the above provisions, we have also made arrangements for school children to be taught in the camps,” Ahon said.

  • FG identifies dams in critical condition for intervention

    FG identifies dams in critical condition for intervention

    The Federal Government is to overhaul the Alau dam in Maiduguri with special focus on raising its reservoir level and fixing damages resulting from the Sept. 9 disaster, an official has disclosed.

    Mr Ali Dala, Director, Dams and Reservoir Operations, in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, disclosed this on Wednesday in Maiduguri when he led a team from various ministries on an assessment visit to the dam.

    Damages to the facility had resulted into a devastating flood that claimed several lives and destroyed lots of properties in the Borno capital.

    Dala, after assessing the dam, told newsmen that the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the facility, adding that other critical dams having similar challenges would eequally be assessed.

    “President Bola Tinubu has approved an Inter-Ministrial Technical Committee for re-evaluation of dams in Nigeria.

    “The membership is drawn from the works, housing, environment, budget, finance and information ministries. The Office of the National Security Adviser is also part of the team.

    “This committee was formed as a result of the flood disaster that hit Maiduguri when the Alau dam collapsed.

    “In the North-East, we are planning to look at the Giri Dam; we did some study that revealed to us that the sedimentation level of about 40 per cent of the life storage of that dam requires urgent attention.

    “It is critical for us to do something about it because the available water will not be able to meet the needs it was originally planned for.

    “We are also going to look at Dadin Kowa dam as it is equally critical. In the south, we shall look at Ogbese Multipurpose dam in Ekiti, Oyan dam in Abeokuta, Egbo dam and Adada dam in Enugu. We shall also assess Obudu dam in Cross Rivers and Nkari dam in Akwa Ibom.

    “We will also be looking at the Bakolori dam in Sokoto State because studies show that it has good sediment level that needs to be dissilted; we will look at that, write a report and make sure that the dam is dissilted.

    “We are starting with Alau dam because of what happened recently. The federal government is planning to do the needful within the shortest time to avoid a recurrence of the Sept. 9 disaster,” he said.

    He assured Nigerians that funds would not be a problem in the execution of the dam projects.

    “The President has approved the release of funds for the execution of these projects through Disaster Release Funds,” Dala said.

    Alau dam, located about 12km away from Maiduguri metropolis, was built in 1984 and has a capacity for 112 cubic meters of water per day.

    It accounts for about 40 per cent of water needs of Maiduguri residents and neighbouring communities.

  • FLOOD! Senate wants River Niger dredged immediately

    FLOOD! Senate wants River Niger dredged immediately

    The senate has asked the Federal Government to direct the Immediate dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue, as part of preventive methods against flooding and facilitate its inclusion into the 2025 budget.

    The Upper legislative chamber adopted the resolution following a motion moved by Sen. Amos Yohanna on the urgent need for intervention in the Humanitarian crisis caused by Flooding in Adamawa North Senatorial district.

    It would be recalled that in 2024, the Senate had at an emergency session equally resolved to facilitate the inclusion of the dredging of River Benue, River Niger, and other river projects in the 2024 Appropriation Bill. The plan was expected to help combat recurring flooding and its effects around the country.

    In his lead debate today, Sen. Yohanna noted that there was massive flooding that caused catastrophic destruction in the Five Local Governments of Adamawa North Senatorial District, namely; Madagali, Maiha, Michika, Mubi North and Mubi South which destroyed hundreds of houses and farmlands.

    The lawmakers further resolved to direct the National Emergency Management Agency to as a matter of urgent priority reach out to the affected communities and provide relief materials to the victims.