Authorities in Nigeria have issued urgent warnings as rising waters in Adamawa State’s Bakin Kogi River threaten widespread flooding, prompting emergency preparations and evacuations. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed Wednesday that water levels at Jimeta, a major district in the northeastern state’s capital of Yola, surpassed the critical threshold of 6.0 meters, heightening risks for low-lying neighborhoods and nearby communities.
In a statement shared on the agency’s official X account, NEMA stressed that immediate danger looms for flood-prone zones, with upstream water discharge rates now exceeding 3,222 cubic meters per second. The surge, attributed to heavy seasonal rains and released dam water upstream, has forced disaster response teams into high alert. “Our Yola office is coordinating with Disaster Response Units and stakeholders to prepare evacuation and relief efforts if needed,” the agency said, underscoring the urgency for residents to follow official safety directives.
Initial displacements have already occurred, with some families taking shelter at Limawa and Gwadabawa Secondary Schools. While the exact number of affected individuals remains unclear, the situation highlights escalating pressures on infrastructure in a region historically vulnerable to seasonal flooding. Adamawa, bordered by Cameroon to the east, frequently experiences overflow from river systems during peak rainy seasons, often displacing thousands and damaging farmland.
NEMA reiterated calls for at-risk populations to avoid complacency, urging adherence to evacuation advisories and real-time updates from verified sources. The agency’s warning aligns with broader forecasts by Nigeria’s meteorological department, which predicted prolonged rainfall and potential flooding across multiple states this year. Environmental experts have long linked such crises to climate variability, inadequate drainage systems, and deforestation, factors exacerbating flood risks in urban and rural zones alike.
As response units monitor the Bakin Kogi’s water levels, regional authorities prioritize contingency plans to mitigate humanitarian impacts. The unfolding scenario underscores the delicate balance between disaster preparedness and rapid response in regions grappling with escalating climate-related emergencies.
