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Nigeria Agency Warns of Worsening Floods, Cites Ignored Warnings
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

Nigeria Agency Warns of Worsening Floods, Cites Ignored Warnings

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nigeria's Hydrological Services Agency warned that recent devastating floods were not a surprise and that its forecasts were disregarded.
  • The agency predicts the rainy season, lasting 12 weeks from July to September, could bring even worse flooding.
  • Flooding poses a risk of polluting drinking water, with Lagos particularly vulnerable due to its coastal location and urban density.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) stated that the recent devastating floods across several states, including Lagos, were predictable and that the agency's warnings were ignored. Umar Mohammed, NiHSA's Director General, asserted that the agency foresaw the events using various forecasting models.

This is something we foresaw, we saw it coming.

— Umar MohammedDirector General and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, commenting on the recent floods.

"This is something we foresaw, we saw it coming," Mohammed said. He warned that the current flooding might only be the beginning of the rainy season, which typically lasts from July to September. "As we speak now, with the flooding happening, if nothing is done, this is just the start of the rainy season... and it could be worse than what is even happening right now," he cautioned, expecting the situation to intensify around August and September.

The NiHSA DG also expressed concerns about the potential pollution of drinking water in affected areas due to the floods. In Lagos, over 12 hours of torrential rainfall submerged properties and roads, halting commercial activities and traffic. Residents were seen bailing water from their homes, and parents kept children from school due to the severity of the downpour.

As we speak now, with the flooding happening, if nothing is done, this is just the start of the rainy season... and it could be worse than what is even happening right now.

— Umar MohammedDirector General and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, warning about the ongoing rainy season.

Mohammed highlighted Lagos's unique vulnerability as a coastal state with a large river cutting through it and its proximity to the ocean. This combination, he explained, makes it susceptible to urban, riverine, and coastal flooding. "So, imagine situations where there is urban flooding, and then the river rises. There is going to be a collision of types of flooding that can even be more devastating," he warned, noting that parts of Lagos lie below sea level.

So, imagine situations where there is urban flooding, and then the river rises. There is going to be a collision of types of flooding that can even be more devastating.

— Umar MohammedDirector General and Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, explaining the complex flooding risks in Lagos.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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