The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has warned of potential river flooding on the Niger and Benue rivers, stating that a large volume of water is flowing through these rivers towards the Niger Delta region.

The minister, speaking in Abuja at a press briefing regarding the flooding situation in Maiduguri, Borno State, called for vigilance in all aspects and proactive measures to address any future flooding events in the southern part of the country.

He noted that the recent flood disaster that affected the Maiduguri and Jere areas of Borno State was largely due to the overflow of water from the Alau Dam, located about 10 kilometres from Maiduguri city centre, resulting from a massive inflow from the Ngadda River, a major tributary of the River Yedzaram.

He referred to the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook publication by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, which highlighted the high, moderate, and low flood risk areas in the country. Borno, Bauchi, Jigawa, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Gombe, and many other states were listed among the 31 states considered high flood risk areas. 

 He emphasised the need for continued vigilance and improved preparedness to address potential flooding in the southern part of the country.