Tony Ezimakor ,Abuja
The Director General Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Ibrahim Mohammed has urged Nigerians to continue to adhere to flood preparedness protocols, reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to the overall flood management in Nigeria.
Umar speaking in a statement signed on Monday 7th October, 2024, revealed that the Water Level in the River Niger Basin has slowly receded since the beginning of October.
He further revealed that Jebba Dam is currently spilling excess water as regulated by Kainji Dam operators who he said, had kept 53cm buffer until now to allow for any change in inflow.
“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 are still some amount of water coming into Nigeria as monitored from our station at Jidere bode and Kende” he emphasized.
Highlighting the Agency’s synergy with the authorities of the Dams both nationally and internationally he maintained that NIHSA is committed to managing River flooding incidences to foster socio-economic growth in Nigeria.
During the weekend,the agency also allayed fears of imminent flooding along the Benue River basin where the agency said the water is equally receding.
In a statement, Umar Mohammed said the agency is also working in synergy with authorities at Lagdo Dam in Cameroun with a view to tracking releases of excess water from the dam, as he stressed, waters in Benue river are “receding in the past few days, and that the probability of a devastating flooding along River Benue is progressively eroding”.
In line with its mandate he reiterated NIHSA’s commitment to constantly monitor the water levels of the Nation’s major rivers and tributaries and overall commitment to flood management in Nigeria.
He however advised that due to variability of the climate, citizens should keep safe as well as keep observing the flood preparedness protocols.
“NIHSA is in synergy with the authorities and management of Lagdo Dam for their releases and the Agency is committed to monitoring the water levels at the critical stations’ he noted.
