Flooding will persist till November – Minister

THE Federal Government on Tuesday cautioned residents displaced by flooding on the bank of the River Niger not to return  home soon because the current flooding devastating parts of the country would continue till November.

 Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, during a visit to the Punch Place, head office of Punch Nigeria Limited, said, “There is the likelihood that those who were displaced or were evacuated from the bank of River Niger would want to return as they see the water receding.

“Flooding is yet to be over. A type of flood called black flood, which is caused by the arrival of floodwaters from upstream of the River Niger is likely to hit communities close to the river banks between October and early November.”

Ochekpe, who blamed the current flood disaster in the country on excessive rainfall experienced this year, said the disaster would have been worse if the Cameroonian authorities had not released water from the Lagdo Dam in the neighbouring country.