The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has proffered some guidelines that could help in mitigating flash floods as the rainy season progresses.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing 2nd Steering Meeting of the Intra-ACP [African, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States] Climate Services and Related Applications Programme (ClimSA) and the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Governing Board of African Centre of the Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD) today (May 5, 2022) in Abuja, the NiMet director-general, Prof. Mansur Matazu, called for the evacuation of drainages and urged city planners to control buildings on flood plains.
Recall that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, like other states across Nigeria has had its fair share of flooding, with the recent flooding of the City Gate of the nation’s capital, as well as other roads leading to the Central Business District (CBD), following heavy rainfall yesterday in the metropolis.
Matazu, who claimed the heavy flash flood was accurate according to its projections in February, further encouraged ministries and other agencies to educate the public on ways of mitigating natural disasters.
“True to the forecast we issued as early as February, that the beginning of the rainy season is always associated with high impact, intensity rain with strong windstorms, we also advised various line ministries to engage in community sensitisation and the evacuation of blocked drainages to allow for free flow of water. We are also calling on city planners and managers to control the proliferation of buildings on vulnerable areas like flood plains and valleys.
“The important thing is compliance. People should comply, plant more trees and provide more greener areas to retain and reduce excess overland flow. This will reduce the impact of flash floods. But this is true to the forecast we issued at the beginning of February, that the beginning/onset season is associated with high-intensity rain and strong windstorms. We advise, especially, the building industry to align structures based on the prevailing weather conditions [so that they can] withstand such high-intensity rain,” he added.
