Flooding: NIHSA says Jebba Dam currently spilling excess water
Oct. 8, 2024
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) says Jebba Dam is currently spilling excess water in coordination with operators of the Kainji Dam.
NIHSA’s Director-General, Mr Umar Mohammed, who made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, noted the importance of adhering to flood preparedness protocols.
“The Kainji Dam has maintained a 53-centimetre buffer to manage any changes in water inflow.
“NIHSA, through our Director of Operational Hydrology, Mr Femi Bejide, is working closely with the operators of Kainji and Jebba Dams to ensure effective reservoir management,” Mohammed stated.
He assured Nigerians that water levels in the River Niger are under control as the country prepares for potential flooding.
He said that water levels in the River Niger Basin have been gradually receding since early October.
The director general noted that despite the rainy season gradually shifting southward, water is still entering Nigeria, as monitored by NIHSA’s stations at Jidere Bode and Kende.
He reaffirmed NIHSA’s commitment to working with dam authorities both nationally and internationally to mitigate river flooding and support Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.
Mohammed added that the agency will continue to monitor weather patterns and water inflows, urging communities in flood-prone areas to stay vigilant and adhere to all safety guidelines.
NIHSA’s 2024 Annual Flood Outlook reveals that 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 31 states are at high risk of flooding.
Others are: Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.
The agency had on Sept. 25 issued a warning about the rising water levels, which it said has steadily risen.(NAN)