NiHSA Cautions: Flooding May Persist Until September, Threatening Water Sources

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has issued a stern warning that various parts of Nigeria could experience continuous flooding until September, with conditions potentially worsening in August if proactive measures are not put in place. This disclosure came from Umar Mohammed, the agency's Director-General, during an interview with Sunday Vanguard, conveyed through Emmanuel Tuna, who heads NiHSA’s Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing Department.

Mohammed stated that NiHSA had accurately predicted the current flood situation well in advance, providing timely alerts to relevant authorities. “This is something we foresaw, we saw it coming,” he affirmed. He further elaborated on the severity, adding, “As we speak now, with the flooding happening, if nothing is done, this is just the start of the rainy season, sometime around July-September (12 weeks), and it could be worse than what is even happening right now. And we’re expecting it to be worse around August-September, particularly August-September.”

Beyond the immediate impact, the NiHSA DG highlighted the agency's deep concern regarding the long-term effects of prolonged flooding on potable water sources. He revealed that NiHSA had already gathered baseline data on borehole water quality before the rainy season intensified. The agency plans to conduct follow-up assessments after the floodwaters recede to ascertain the extent of contamination and pinpoint its origins. “We were concerned about the drinking water because we expected it to last longer, the flood to last over a long period,” Mohammed explained. “So, we started analysing the quality of the water, and we did, we have our reports. We wanted to observe the quality of the water before the flood because we know that after flooding, or even during flood, we are expecting challenges of drinking water in the states. So we can get to confirm what is polluting the water. We want to confirm the sources, particularly the source. So we have before flood records, as we speak, and now that flooding is happening, I am sure my DG is already putting together a team to go to Lagos and get a post-flood report.”

Mohammed identified Lagos State as one of Nigeria's most susceptible regions to flooding, attributing this to its vulnerability to urban, riverine, and coastal inundation. He pointed out that factors such as clogged drainage systems, silt accumulation, low-lying topography, and rising river levels have exacerbated the effects of recent heavy rainfall. The NiHSA chief cautioned that the flooding pattern is expected to be intermittent over the next few months before any significant improvement. “We are expecting this flood to be on and off, and to span from July to September on and off,” he said, adding, “Around October, we are expecting these rains to be receding… the only time we can be safe, I will be honest, is possibly around November.”

He also openly criticised state governments for their perceived failure to act upon the agency's annual flood outlook and consistent early warnings. “We have a challenge of cooperation from states, a serious challenge with cooperation from states. Most times we get disregarded. Our warnings are not taken with seriousness.” This warning comes after widespread flooding last week, triggered by intense rainfall across several Nigerian states, with Lagos being notably impacted. The floods submerged roads, residences, and vital infrastructure, leading to transportation disruptions, displacement of residents, and power outages in some areas after a transmission substation was inundated.