The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a warning of an impending flash-flood risk across 27 states in the first 10 days of July, noting that without active intervention, torrential rainfall could lead to worse flooding than already seen.
NiMet pinned the risk on persistent rainfall capable of triggering intense flooding in Taraba, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Adamawa, Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Edo, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa States.
The meteorological agency noted that as Africa’s most populous nation enters the peak of the rainy season, which usually begins in April and continues through October, there is a heightened likelihood that flood-prone states will experience flooding worse than last year, particularly as current rainfall has left soils unable to absorb precipitation.
“Following widespread rainfall recorded across many parts of Nigeria in June, soils have become heavily saturated, reducing their ability to absorb additional rainfall,” NiMet wrote in an advisory statement.
In Lagos, many homes and businesses have experienced flooding that has left buildings deep-sunk in dirty water and commuters stranded in jam-locked traffic.
