We are in the wettest part of the rainy season. We are referring to July through November. This period is characterized by thunderous, nonstop rains and flooding. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), as usual, has warned of “possible heavy rainfall and thunderstorm” in some parts of the country for three days running.
General Manager, Public Relations, Mr Ibrahim Muntari, issued the warning in a statement in Lagos on Friday. He said a three-day forecast released by the Central Forecast Office (CFO) indicated that there would be thunderstorms over parts of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Kaduna.
Other places mentioned in the forecast are Jigawa, Gombe, Kano and Yobe states. Muntari said parts of Niger, FCT and Nasarawa also Hades “prospects of thunderstorm and intermittent rains”. The spokesperson further noted that there were “chances of moderate to heavy rainfall in parts of Benue, Bauchi, Plateau, Southern Borno, Gombe and Southern Yobe. Cloudy conditions and light rains were expected over the rest of the country, he added.
As a result of the expected heavy rainfall and soil moisture, Muntari said there were chances of flooding of roads, low lying settlements, stream and river channels and disruption of traffic. “Other effects are reduction in flight visibility, possible delays in flight operations, damage to mud houses and makeshift structures, possible damage to roads and bridges,” he said.
Muntari advised the public to “exercise restraint and wait till after the rains to commute”. He assured that NiMet would continue to “monitor and update any changes in the weather pattern”.
We commend NiMET for issuing this warning early enough for the states it mentioned to take all actions necessary to avert any unsavoury consequences of the anticipated inclement weather. It is noteworthy that all the states listed in the bad weather forecast are in the North. They are the states that suffer from deadly flooding year in year out. Benue, located in the middle course of River Benue, typifies the unpreparedness of those states for the floods when they do arrive eventually. The consequences usually are avoidable deaths and destruction of crops and physical structures.
We say the deaths and destruction are avoidable because NiMET’s warnings come early enough. But for whatever reasons, nothing is done to keep the floodgates shut. We pray this year is different.
