The Federal Ministry of Environment has predicted “heavier than normal rainfall'' which may cause further flooding between now and Oct.16 in 14 states of the country.
The prediction is contained in a report issued on Friday in Abuja by Dr Morohunkeji Oyeleke, the Deputy Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management of the ministry.
Oyeleke identified areas that could be affected in Bauchi State as Azare, Tafawa-Balewa, Misau, Kirfi, Kari, Jama’are and Itass while in Kebbi, Argungu and Anka may also be affected.
Other areas are Bakori and Funtua in Katsina State, Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, Mubi in Adamawa, Briyel in Borno and Wara in Kogi.
She also indicated that Jebba and Lafiaji in Kwara, Sari Pawa, Mashegu and Kontagora in Niger, Kisi in Oyo State, and Silame and Shagari in Sokoto State would witness more rain.
In Zamfara, the heavy down pour may be experienced in Gusau, Maru, Maradun and Kaura-Namoda, so also Mutum-Biyu, Lau and Donga in Taraba as well as Gezawa, Wudil and Kiru in Kano State, she added.
Oyeleke appealed to the governments of the identified states to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid a new round of flooding, adding that similar warnings in the past had saved the lives and property of the people.
She said that the ministry had been receiving verbal reports from various state governments on how the weather forecasts had helped them in taking proactive measures to prevent loss of lives and property.
The deputy director assured that the ministry would notify the states in case of changes in the prediction, as weather forecasting was based on probability.
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