From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Federal Government has warned residents of 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of heightened flood risks between September 27 and October 10, even as heavy rains have already submerged thousands of homes in Makurdi, Benue State, and rendered more than 300 people homeless in Ebonyi State.

The warning was contained in a flood prediction issued by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre under the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.

The Centre, in an advisory signed by its Director, Usman Abdullahi Bokani, attributed the heightened risk to heavy rainfall, rising river levels, saturated soil, increased surface runoff, drainage surcharge and elevated soil moisture.

States with communities classified under the critical-risk category include Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.

The FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa and Kebbi were among areas where communities were placed on the high-risk list.

Major urban centres covered by the warning include Makurdi, Lokoja, Minna, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Asaba, Calabar, Uyo, Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Ado-Ekiti, Lagos, Abeokuta, Akure, Osogbo and Ibadan.

In the FCT, Abuja Municipal, Asokoro, Bwari, Garki, Gwagwalada, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Kuje, Kwali, Lugbe, Maitama, Nyanya and Wuse were listed among locations facing high flood risk.

The warning comes against the backdrop of fresh flooding in Makurdi, where more than 3,000 houses, churches, schools, eateries and bars were submerged following a heavy downpour that lasted more than eight hours overnight into Monday.

Areas badly affected in the Benue capital include the vicinity of Methodist Church, Owner Occupier Estate along George Akume Way, New GRA, Radio Benue, Nyiman, Idye and Naka Road.

Other affected areas include Achusa, North Bank, Ankpa Quarters, Tilley Gyado-Terwase, Wurukum, Wadata and the area behind the Customary Court.

The flooding damaged household goods and foodstuffs, while several commuters were stranded as floodwaters took over roads and streets.

Residents attributed much of the flooding in some areas to ongoing road construction and uncompleted drainage works, which they said caused water to overflow into surrounding communities.

At Idye and Old Otukpo Road, flooded streets became impassable, prompting residents to call for urgent completion of road and drainage projects.

One resident commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for ongoing efforts to address perennial flooding through road and drainage construction but urged the state government to open channels allegedly blocked by construction activities to allow water to flow freely.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, James Iorpuu, were unsuccessful.

In Ebonyi, meanwhile, flood victims in Amaegbu, Akaeze Community, Ivo Local Government Area, are appealing for urgent government and humanitarian intervention after a September 22 downpour submerged homes and farmlands and displaced more than 300 people.

Affected communities include Amaegbu-Akaibe-Umoihe, Umobo, Amaeze and Akaeze-Ukwu.

Some displaced families have relocated to safer areas and neighbouring villages, while others have been trying to repair damaged houses and salvage their belongings.

A nursing mother, Blessing Chigozie, said her home and property were completely destroyed, leaving her family without shelter.

The mother of four appealed for shelter, food, medical supplies and other relief materials, particularly because she has a newborn baby.

Another victim, Michael Oko, blamed the flooding on River Eziaku and called for urgent measures to protect communities along the waterway.

He said the disaster had destroyed property, disrupted economic activities and affected residents whose livelihoods depend largely on farming and small-scale businesses.

Joy Chikezie, another victim, said several houses and farmlands had been destroyed, leaving residents homeless and without their means of livelihood.

The community secretary, Prince Ette-Igwe, put the number of houses destroyed at more than 60 and appealed for temporary accommodation, food, potable water, bedding, clothing and medical supplies.

The Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi has visited the affected communities and donated N5 million to the victims, while the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that no life was lost in the disaster.

Against the backdrop of the incidents, the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre urged residents in critical-risk communities to maintain an immediate flood watch, identify evacuation routes and protect vulnerable persons and essential property.

It advised residents to avoid settling, parking, trading or storing goods on floodplains, wetlands, riverbanks and low-lying drainage corridors.

State emergency management agencies and other relevant authorities were directed to intensify monitoring of rivers, streams, culverts, bridges, drains, estuaries, reservoirs and erosion-prone areas.

The Centre also advised residents to comply with evacuation orders, keep children away from floodwater and avoid walking or driving through flowing water.

It urged residents to disconnect electricity where flooding was imminent and secure medicines, important documents, food and potable water.

The Centre stressed that the forecast should be considered alongside real-time rainfall, drainage and river-level conditions, as prolonged or consecutive rainfall could rapidly worsen local flood risks.