Environment

NiMET forecasts 3-day of thunderstorm, rain

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast thundery and rainy weather conditions from Thursday to Saturday.

NiMet’s weather outlook, released on Wednesday in Abuja, predicted isolated thunderstorms over parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Taraba, Gombe, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, and Adamawa states during the morning hours.

According to the forecast, thunderstorms are expected over parts of Borno, Jigawa, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Zamfara, Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa states later in the day.

“In the North Central region, moderate rains are expected over parts of Niger State during the morning. Moderate rains are also expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Benue States later in the day.

“Over the southern region, intermittent rains are expected over parts of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states in the afternoon and evening hours,” it said.

NiMet forecast thunderstorms over parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kano states on Friday morning.

The agency anticipated scattered thunderstorms across the northern region later in the afternoon and evening hours.

NiMet predicted isolated rains over parts of Niger, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory, and Plateau States on Friday morning.

It forecast moderate rains over parts of Niger, Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory, and Benue States later in the day.

The agency forecast cloudy skies over the southern region during the morning hours and intermittent rains over parts of the region later in the day.

“For Saturday, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Sokoto, Kaduna, Bauchi, Zamfara, Adamawa, Taraba, and Kebbi States in the morning hours. Later in the afternoon and evening hours, widespread thunderstorms are expected across the northern region.

“Over the North Central region, moderate rains are expected during the morning hours over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, and Benue states,” it said.

NiMet forecast thunderstorms with moderate rains over most parts of the North Central region during the afternoon and evening hours.

It anticipated intermittent rains across the southern region during the afternoon to evening hours.

NiMet advised residents of major cities to avoid flood-prone areas, as there is a high likelihood of urban flooding in major cities due to heavy downpours.

“Strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur. The public should take adequate precautions and adhere to safety advisories issued by relevant authorities.

“Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website at www.nimet.gov.ng.

“The public and airline operators are advised to obtain updated weather reports and forecasts from NiMet for effective planning in their operations,” it said.(NAN)

Environment

Maiduguri flood is an unprecedented incident- NEMA

Aerial view shows houses submerged under water in Maiduguri on September 10, 2024. (Photo by Audu MARTE / AFP)

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has described Tuesday’s flash flood in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital as an unprecedented incident.

Flood water from an overflowing dam destroyed thousands of homes in the Northeastern Nigeria city, with emergency officials fearing the situation could get worse.

“It is an unprecedented incident,” NEMA spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP on Tuesday. “Some of the central parts of the city that have not witnessed flood in so many years are witnessing it today.”

A general view of flood water surrounding a building in Maiduguri on September 10, 2024. (Photo by Audu MARTE / AFP)
Thousands of homes have been submerged by the rapid rise of waters after the rupture of the Alau dam on the Ngadda River, 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Maiduguri.

“The last three days have over 150,000 individuals with over 23,000 households affected,” said NEMA zonal coordinator Surajo Garba.

But with more locations being hit, “we are sure the figure will be much over 200,000 individuals,” Garba forecast.

“The flood, which began over the weekend and worsened in the following days, was the direct result of excess water from the Alau Dam,” said Nigeria’s Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who hails from Maiduguri as he visited the area.

“The collapse of the spillways unleashed a significant surge of water downstream, causing widespread flooding in the surrounding communities,” added Shettima.

The flood also inundated the city’s post office and main zoo, with authorities warning that “deadly animals has been washed away into our communities (sic).”

Social media showed pictures of an ostrich which had supposedly escaped from the facility wandering the streets of the city.

Manzo said forecasts did not prepare the emergency workers for the extent of the flooding, while also blaming the impact of climate change for the “disaster”.

He told AFP that there were deaths as a result of the incident but declined to give a specific number as rescue workers continue rescue operations in the affected areas.

Environment

Roads, houses submerged, many displaced as flood ravages Maiduguri

Major roads, houses, and shops in Maiduguri metropolis, the Borno State capital, and parts of the Jere Local Government Area have been submerged by floodwaters.

The Shehu’s Palace, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo were some of the public infrastructure submerged by flood.

A prison wall located along the Custom area was broken by flood as some inmates allegedly drowned while several others escaped for their lives.

Major roads within the state capital including the Post-Office Roundabout which links major locations in the capital are flooded thereby cutting off vehicular movement within the metropolis.

The Abbaganaram, Custom Road along which the flooded prison is located, Tashan Bama, Custom Road, Monday Market, Gamboru Market Custom Area, Cattle Market in old Maiduguri, Gwange area, Lagos Street are all communities affected by the flood.

The Maiduguri Zoo’s popularity known as Sanda Kyarimi Zoo Park was flooded too. The General Manager of the zoo, Ali Abatcha, said 80% of the animals in the zoo have been killed by the flood while the others have escaped into the city capital.

Thousands of residents living along waterways and flood-prone areas have been displaced, the majority of whom are women and children.

Several shop owners and small-scale businesses are also affected by the flood.

Touring across safer areas within Maiduguri, thousands of women and children are relocating along with their belongings.

Many of them are seen taking refuge under trees at the major roads.

Apart from large volume rainfall being experienced this year, the flood, according to multiple sources, is a result of leakage of the bank of Alo Dam, a major source of water supply to Maiduguri which draws its source from River Ngadda in Cameroon and the Lake Chad.

Environment

FG issues licence to construct floating LNG plant

The Federal Government has issued a licence to construct (LCT) Nigeria’s pioneering floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility to UTM FLNG Limited.

This marks a giant leap in the country’s energy sector.

The issuance of the LTC by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) last Friday was part of a major fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assurance in July, last year, to give necessary support to the Nigerian firm to actualise the landmark gas project.

The President, while hosting the management of the company and its foreign partners at the State House in Abuja, pledged to remove all impediments to the timely completion of the project.

The UTM FLNG plant, which is located offshore Akwa Ibom State, is expected to be completed and inaugurated in 2028 with gas production projected to begin the following year.

The plant, with a capacity of 2.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), will produce LNG, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and condensate from re-injected gas at the OML 104 Yoho Field.

The project represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s energy sector, enhancing the country’s ability to harness its untapped 209 trillion cubic feet of natural gas for both export and domestic consumption.

It is expected to leapfrog the national economy by ensuring availability of gas at lower cost, generate massive employment and multi-million naira business opportunities for Nigerians and other nationals.

The presentation of the licence to the company at the NMDPRA headquarters at the weekend in Abuja was witnessed by key industry players, including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.