FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WARNS OF WORSENING FLOOD THREAT AS RAINY SEASON PEAKS.

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to begin immediate preparations for possible flooding as the rainy season intensifies, warning that climate change has significantly altered rainfall patterns across the country and increased flood risks in several states.

The appeal was made by the Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, YUSSUF KELANI, who said the recent flooding in Lagos and other parts of the country should serve as a wake-up call for governments, communities and citizens to prioritise disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

In a statement issued in Abuja today, KELANI said climate change is no longer a future environmental concern but a present-day national development challenge that requires coordinated action at all levels.

The presidential aide warned that the threat of flooding extends beyond Lagos state, stressing that communities along the Rivers Niger and Benue, as well as states in the North-Central, South-South, South-East, parts of the North-West and coastal regions, remain highly vulnerable.

He urged state governments, local government councils, traditional institutions, religious organisations and community associations to intensify public awareness campaigns, inspect drainage infrastructure and activate emergency response plans ahead of the peak of the rainy season.