NiMet warns of flash floods in 13 states

NiMet has issued an urgent advisory warning of high-risk flash flooding across 13 states, including Sokoto, Kaduna and Adamawa, between August 11 and August 20.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) issued an urgent weather advisory warning of high-risk flash flooding across 13 states, including Sokoto, Kaduna and Adamawa, between August 11 and August 20. State emergency management authorities were urged to clear drainage channels and relocate flood-prone communities.

The warning is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of many Nigerian communities to flooding. The affected states are in the north, where flooding has often been less frequent but equally devastating. The authorities must act quickly to prevent loss of life and property.

This echoes the 2022 flood warnings, which also saw NiMet issue urgent advisories. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a call for action that is often ignored.

The winners: none. The losers: the communities in the affected states, who face the risk of flooding; and the Nigerian government, which must act to prevent a disaster.

Bottom Line: NiMet has warned of flash floods in 13 states. The government must act. The question is whether it will or the floods will come first.