New Weather: NiMet send warning alert to states

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has called on State Governments and National Emergency Management Agencies to intensify mitigation and adaptation plans as a response mechanism in emergency weather situation.

This is as the Director General of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, hinted at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, after the Agency’s analysis in the last 48 hours shows a the possibilities of flooding across the country, adding that there is need for massive sensitization of citizens on the latest weather condition forecast.

According to the DG, the three months forecast covereing the months of August, September, and October 2022 season became a necessity after the conduct of the recent SPI analysis to further alert Nigerians on the possibilities of high level of flood threat in some states across the country.

“If you live in flood-prone areas definitely you will be very prone to this, or if you live in a low land area. This information is better utilized by state emergency or what is supposed to be local emergency committees, they normally carry out vulnerability assessments and identify high-risk areas, based on the forecast, and then they advise. I know National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is coordinating temporary evacuation camps in collaboration with some state governments. The information is to effectively work with the vulnerable communities.

“States that are expected to experience varying degrees of flood episodes are advised to begin their awareness campaigns through field extension workers for possible response activities, especially at the high-risk areas.”

Most southwestwrn states such Lagos, Ogun, Osun, much of Oyo, Ondo, parts of Ekiti, and Edo states are expected to have normal to above normal rainfall, while normal rainfall conditions are expected in the central states, most of Kaduna, Adamawa, Edo, Ekiti, Oyo, parts of Bauchi, Gombe and Ondo states.

He also said, above-normal rainfall conditions is expected in northern states of Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, much of Kebbl and Gombe, Kaduna, and the Adamawa States.

Matazu noted that normal to below normal conditions should be exowcted in the south-south and the inland states such as Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu states.

Urging Nigerians to heed the advise of NEMA and other relevant agencies in mitigating an unforseen emergencies, the NiMet boss stressed that, there maybe be a need for evacuation of some areas depending on their locations.