The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has predicted flooding in nine Local Government Areas in Benue.
The agency’s Director -General, Mrs Zubaida Umar, disclosed this on Tuesday in Makurdi during the Downscaling of Flood Early Warning Strategies for Early Actions in the State.
She said that three LGAs of Bururku, Makurdi and Guma would be the mostly hit.
Represented by Air Commodore Kennedy Mataluwo, the NEMA boss, said the flood may have impact on 31 States in the country with 148 LGAs been predicted to be within the high risk areas.
She stated that 35 States, including FCT with 249 LGAs are considered to fall within the moderate flood risk areas, while the remaining 377 LGAs are forecasted as the low flood risk areas.
“NEMA’s records of flood incidents in Benue shows that the state has been severely impacted by floods, but for the 2024 rainy season, some Local government areas in the state are still predicted to be affected by flooding.
“These LGAs,which are under high and moderate flood risk areas include Buruku, Makurdi, Guma, Agatu, Tarka, Gwer West, Logo, Kwande and Katsina-Ala.
“They are already listed in the earlier NEMA communication to the Government of Benue.
“This underscores this flag off, in the State today. Accordingly, I call for support in this initiative of downscaling flood early warning and risk mitigation messages to the grassroots,”she said.
The D-G explained that these flood risk areas were presented with their degree of vulnerability to serve as a tool for government at all levels to develop risk reduction measures to avert disaster during the rainy season.
She urged Nigerians to take actions that would drastically reduce the adverse impacts of floods on the entire landscape and the population, especially for most vulnerable persons living in communities identified to be at risk of flooding.
