FG launches 2013 flood outlook for Nigeria

As part of measures to curtail likely flood in Nigeria this year and avoid the repeat of what happened last year when several parts of the country experienced severe flooding, the Federal Government has launched the maiden edition of a document tagged: “2013 Annual Flood Outlook for Nigeria.”
The document, which was put together by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, was as a result of Nigeria Metrological Agency’s prediction on increase in rainfall in 2013 in Nigeria.
The document evaluated the flood scenario in 2012 and analyzed the most likely areas to experience flood in 2013.
It has also offered suggestions to all stakeholders and the general public on how to reduce the anticipated flooding as a result of expected increase in rainfall this year.
In her remarks while launching the document on Friday, the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe, said that the flood outlook was based on the 2013 NIMET’s Seasonal Rainfall Prediction and other relevant hydrological parameters.
Ochekpe further said that NIHSA works with information from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, to issue out flood forecasts.
“The 2013 Flood Outlook is a flood risk management element which entails multidisciplinary contributions, in order to improve information that will promote preventive and responsive strategies in mitigating the impacts of floods through informed decisions by relevant authorities and agencies,” She said.
Ochekpe further explained that the 2013 flood outlook is to further inform and prepare our people, especially the vulnerable lots in the rural areas, encourage them to be involved in the mitigation of any occurring flood hazards, thereby alleviating poverty and gingering national socio-economic development, as well as saving lives.
Explaining more about the document, Engr. John Shamonda, the Director General of NIHSA, said that National Metrological Agency has predicted that in 2013 there would be increase in rainfall compared to 2012 and the duration of the rainfall would vary from one part of the country to another.
Based on NIMET’s Prediction, the Nigeria Hydrological Agency used its eight hydrological systems across the country to get data about the expected affected areas.
According to the data gathered, Shamonda said: “With the exception of Makurdi and environs, there will be nationwide increase in the amount of rainfall in 2013 when compared with 2012 seasonal rainfall prediction. The expected amount of rainfall in Makurdi for 2013 is expected to decrease by about 3 per cent in 2013 when compare with 2012. Increase in other parts of the country is expected to range between 3.78 per cent in Abuja, about 29.35 per cent in Potiskum, among others.”
Speaking on the duration of the rainfall, Shamonda said: “There will be decrease by 0.92 per cent in Abuja, 1.6 per cent in Bidda, 0.81 per cent in Ibadan, 2.47 per cent in Kaduna and 1.29 per cent in Shagamu for the 2013 when compared with 2012 seasonal rainfall prediction. Aside from these five locations that geographically spread between parts of the North Central to the South West, all other places in the county are expected to have increase in the length of raining season in 2013.”
On protective measures to be taken against flooding, the NIHSA Director General suggested that the major reservoirs on the Kamadugu, Yobe Basin and the Niger and Benue Basins should be lowered of storage in May and June in order to accommodate flood water expected from July.
He also said that government at all levels should create awareness on the need for communities to relocate to a safer area.
A total of 156 local governments are expected to be affected except where drainage facilities and west dump might have been cleared, he added.