‘Rivers Niger, Benue may overflow their banks’

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There are indications that Rivers Niger and Benue may overflow their banks any moment from now as both rivers have risen to 9.2 centimetres.

The Kogi State Ministry of Environment, which made this known in a statement on Monday in Lokoja, said the water level was close to the 9.9 centimetres level which was responsible for the massive flooding of 2012.

“With this development, flooding is very likely in some communities along Rivers Niger and Benue and their tributaries,” the statement signed by Ms. Dorathy Onoja, the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, said.

A visit to some communities along the river bank in Lokoja revealed an apprehensive atmosphere due to the last experience.

Some of them were seen gathering their personal effects together in readiness for the expected flood.

The 2012 flood had ravaged 43 communities in nine local government areas of the state while 33 lives and properties including houses, livestock and farms worth billions of naira were lost.

It advised residents living along river plains to immediately relocate to higher grounds for the safety of their lives.

Source: Punch