Four communities in Yola-North and Yola-South local government areas of Adamawa State were flooded on Tuesday after a heavy downpour that l...
Four communities in Yola-North and Yola-South local government areas of Adamawa State were flooded on Tuesday after a heavy downpour that lasted for five hours.
The affected communities are Limiwa, Rumde, Shinko, and Jambutu.
State officials and residents confirmed that while no lives were lost in the latest incident, the flood caused significant damage to properties.
Both the Adamawa State Police Command and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed the incident, stating that marine police personnel and emergency responders had been deployed to some of the affected areas for search and rescue operations. The disaster occurred barely two months after a flood devastated almost half of Yola-South Local Government Area, claiming over 20 lives, destroying farmlands, and damaging properties.
Adamawa is among the states listed by the Federal Ministry of Environment's National Flood Early Warning Centre as being at risk of severe rainfall and flooding this year.
Other states, including Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, and Taraba, have also been hit by floods earlier in the year, many triggered by heavy downpours.
Police spokesperson in Adamawa, Suleiman Nguroje, in a statement, said the Commissioner of Police, Morris Dankombo, personally visited the affected communities to assess the situation and coordinate the necessary response.
He urged residents to remain calm and avoid flood-prone areas to protect their families and property.
Similarly, Mr. Ladan Ayuba, Head of Operations at the NEMA Yola Field Office, said vulnerable groups-including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities-were safely evacuated from high-risk areas to designated shelters and safe locations.
A resident of Police Barracks, Ojoma Yusuf, described her ordeal, noting that despite her home being on higher ground in central Yola, she still experienced flooding. 'Water filled my rooms and destroyed some of my documents,' she said.
Another resident from Jambutu, Abdulrahman Abubakar, said he woke up to find his room submerged but was relieved that his essential documents were safe.
Hajiya Hauwa Moscow, a resident of the Doubeli community, explained how her home and those of her neighbours were flooded by the torrential rain.
'After the Fajr prayer, I saw dark clouds and knew the rain would be heavy. I quickly moved my valuables onto a tall cabinet. Soon after, thunder rolled, and the heavy rain saturated the ground, forcing water into our homes,' she said.
Another resident from Rumde, Malam Shehu Habu, expressed dismay over his losses.
'All my valuables, including some maize flour, have been soaked. I pray the government will have mercy and compensate us,' he said.
A farmer, Modibbo Adamu, lamented how the flood destroyed his farmland just meters from his home.
'I planted rice and maize, but the torrential rain has submerged my farmland. I only pray it turns out for good,' he said, calling on the Adamawa State Government to assist small-scale farmers in reviving their fields.
Speaking with our correspondent, the state's Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Development, Sadiq Muhammed, confirmed that no lives were lost.
He said the ministry had anticipated imminent flooding and had been sensitizing residents, though the floods struck earlier than expected.
He urged residents not to panic, clarifying that the floods were caused by heavy rainfall, not the release of water from Cameroon's Lagdo Dam.
'People are worried that it may be the Lagdo Dam, but based on our information, no water has been released yet,' he said.
The Commissioner advised residents in flood-prone areas to relocate and assured that relief materials would soon be distributed.
He further said the state government, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners, has been working to desilt waterways and is planning to reallocate land to residents living on floodplains.
As of the time of filing this report, floodwaters had receded in the affected communities.
Heavy rainfall triggers flood in Lagos, disrupts movements
Heavy rainfall on Tuesday morning caused a flash flood in several parts of Lagos, disrupting vehicular movement and leaving many residents stranded.
Among the worst-hit areas were Kofo Abayomi Street in Victoria Island, Ogba by the Mobil filling station, Ologolo in Lekki, and the Maya axis of Ikorodu, where roads were submerged and residents waded through knee-deep water.
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, urged residents to adopt responsible practices to reduce the impact of flooding.
'While we cannot control the weather, we can work together to mitigate its impact on our environment. Responsible practices such as proper waste disposal and avoiding construction in floodplains are crucial in this fight,' Wahab said.
For many Lagos residents, the downpour disrupted daily routines.
A civil servant, Kayode Gabriel, recounted his experience in Victoria Island, saying: 'I left for work very early today to avoid getting stuck in the rain, but on getting to VI, I was already drenched and knee-deep in floodwater.'
The Lagos State government has repeatedly warned that the city's flat terrain, coupled with indiscriminate waste disposal and rapid urbanisation, makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding during heavy rains.
Emergency agencies confirmed that they are closely monitoring the situation in the affected areas.
Osun govt assesses level of damage
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government yesterday assessed the level of damage wrecked by the recent flood that happened in some parts of the state recently.
Daily Trust reports that some parts of the State, including Iwo, experienced a devastating flood on Friday after several hours of heavy rainfall.
On Tuesday, senior government officials led by Mayowa Adejoorin conducted an on-the-spot assessment in Iwo to evaluate the extent of last week's flooding in the town.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, in a statement by his media aide, Olawale Rasheed, said he was pained by the huge personal losses suffered by residents as a result of the flood, assuring that his administration would safeguard the lives and properties of the people.
'Before this incident, our government had taken flood prevention steps, which included dredging of Aiba waterways, among others, to open up water channels and ensure the free-flow of water to avert flooding.
'Following the incident, the government has mobilised resources for the channelisation of more waterways to ensure that this awful incident does not happen again.
'I have also directed the Commissioner of Environment to conduct on-the-spot assessment and come up with a lasting solution to flooding in Iwo and environs,' the governor said.
The governor assured the victims that the government will take stock of losses and provide appropriate support for victims.
Air Peace flight delayed in Lagos
Air Peace has announced delays on some of its flights across the country following heavy rainfall in Lagos on Tuesday morning.
The airline disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the adverse weather conditions affected schedules, but passenger safety remained paramount.
'We wish to inform you that due to the heavy downpour of rain in Lagos this morning, some flights across our operating networks will be delayed,' it said.
The airline explained that while the weather was beyond its control, it was working to minimise the disruptions.
'While weather is beyond our control and safety remains our utmost priority, we appeal for your understanding as we manage the disruptions as best as we can and get you to your destinations safely,' Air Peace said.
From Amina Abdullahi (Yola), Idowu Isamotu (Abuja) and Gbenga Adebayo (Lagos)
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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