The Nigerian Hydrological Agency  has issued flood warnings as the 2025 rainy season in the country commences in full swing. The agency identified  six states including Abia, Benue, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Jigawa as being the most prone to flooding. According to the agency 1249 communities across 30 states are in high risk, while 2187 in 293 communities are at moderate risk.

Speaking during a meeting on Nigeria’s 2025 Flood Outlook,  the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev emphasized the importance of community-based early systems as the  best approach for guarding against the dangers of flooding.  

He said,

“The agency is adopting a new and more effective approach to flood forecast to ensure that critical risk information is clearly understood and actionable to vulnerable communities…Early warning can only be impactful when proper communication is defined, and weather forecasts are locations specific”.

He added that early response activities must be led by stakeholders in  vulnerable communities to ensure that they are actionable. Local communities must be adequately prepared,

Flooding has emerged as Nigeria’s most devastating emergencies worsened by the growing impacts of climate change.

How is your community preparing for the 2025 flooding season?

Published: 11/04/2025

Philip Ephraim

An over 10-hour downpour yesterday grounded business operations and commercial activities in Lagos and parts of Ogun states. The heavy downpour caused flooding that brought down a building in the Mushin area of Lagos. Flood waters grounded vehicular movement on the roads and overwhelmed thousands of residents. Pupils could not attend schools in parts of both states.

Speaking anonymously to Philco News, some residents confirmed that the rains began at midnight and continued till noon, making a total of 12 hours unlike the officially announced 10 hours by the Lagos State Government.

As observed, areas severely affected on the mainland included, Oworo, Agege, Ijegun-Isheri Osun, and Gbagada. On Lagos Island, areas like Eredo, Bojije, Epe, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, Awoyaya, Labora, and Abijon were affected. Homes were flooded and property worth millions of naira were damaged.

Vehicular movement was made more  difficult due to construction and reconstruction activities on major roads. Sadly, drivers of commercial motorbikes seized the opportunity to ferry people through the flood waters, with many hiking their prices.

Many have blamed the floods on constant sea dredging to gain land for sale and poor drainage. Some Lagos residents refuse to clean their drainage systems, leaving them filthy and clogged with waste.

Were you affected by the flooding?

What can be done to prevent the flooding problem in Lagos State and other parts of Nigeria?

Share your experience and thoughts with us in the comments.

Published: 04/07/2024

Philip Ephraim

President William Ruto of Kenya has announced that the country could be hit anytime soon by the tropical cyclone Hidaya. The cyclone is expected to increase the water levels, causing dams to flood and spill over into surrounding communities. The government has given residents living near dams along the Nairobi River 24 hours from 18:30 local time on Thursday to leave or be forcibly evacuated.

Recent heavy rains caused severe flooding and landslides across Kenya and Tanzania. So far, 188 have been reported dead, 125 injured, and 165,000 people displaced by sweeping floods and mudslides triggered by the El Nino weather pattern.

El Nino is a climate phenomenon typically associated with increased heat worldwide, leading to drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere.

Share your thought on this story in the comments.

Published: 03/05/2024

Philip Ephraim

In a fiery opening speech at the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 28) held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres called for an immediate stop in the use of fossil fuels.

He stressed that fossil fuels contribute immensely to polluting the environment. He advised economic leaders to lead the transition to switching to renewable energy sources as humanity’s fate hangs in the balance. He said, “We are miles from the Paris Agreement and minutes to midnight…but it is not too late…you can prevent climate crash and burn…we should not reduce but phase out with a clear time frame.” 

In line with Guterres, King Charles II of UK, expressed his worry at the state of the planet, as fossil fuels continue to raise the levels of pollution. He prayed that COP28 would be a genuine critical transformational turning point to action. 

The monarch said, “We are dreadfully far off track…unless we restore nature’s unique economy based on harmony and balance, our own economy and survivability will be in peril”. 

What do you think of Guterres’ and King Charles’ speeches today?

Are countries ready to end the use of fossil fuels?

Tell us on our social media pages.

Published: 01/12/2023

Philip Ephraim

Students of the Department of Communication and Multimedia Design at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) have planted over a hundred trees to reforest different locations in the Wuro Hausa Community in Yola South, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The students planted trees in open spaces and in select compounds.

The tree planting and public sensitization exercise on Saturday, November 18, was to put to practice the knowledge of corporate social responsibility via community service gained from the course CMD 446 - Economic and Social Issues in Public Relations and Advertising taught by their lecturer, Dr. Philip Effiom Ephraim.

To actualize their ‘Trees for Yola Project’, the class sought the assistance of En Aawa Trees Foundation. They received a hundred tree saplings and some financial assistance to facilitate their project.  

Reacting to the project, a community leader, Iya Abubakar Umar, former Controller General of the Nigerian Customs and Falaki of Adamawa State, said, “This project is apt, as it addresses challenges caused by climate change, including deforestation. The project is laudable, encouraging, and beneficial, as it also enlightens the community on the importance of trees. Trees like mango provide food and shade. As a community, we will closely guard these trees”.

Another resident, Usman Bello, a federal civil servant, commented that “the project is a welcome idea. Trees are important for beautifying the environment and providing shade. I wish to encourage the students to continue in this good work”.  

Maimuna Garba, the student coordinator for the project, stated that the class decided to embark on the project in line with the development agenda of AUN to impact positively on their immediate community. She said, “This project attracted other benefits. It united the community. People welcomed us and assisted in the tree planting”.  

Another student in the group, Grace Bulama said, “It gives us joy to use our knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in Yola South. These trees will still be here, long after we graduate from AUN”. 

Murtala Abba, Adamawa State Manager of En Aawa, was on ground to give the students the needed moral and technical support.

En Aawa Trees Foundation is a registered Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to combating desertification and deforestation. The foundation believes in supporting afforestation initiatives that contribute to a greener and more sustainable environment, especially in the Sahel region.

Published: 19/11/2023

Philip Ephraim

Yola, Nigeria

The death toll in Libya is continuing to rise as rescuers struggle to find people swept away by devastating floods. The floods were intensified by water from two collapsed dams. 

In a tweet, the Libya office of the United Nations’ International Office for Migration IOM announced that over 30,000 persons have been displaced by the disaster. The IOM added that the floods were induced by Storm Daniel which made landfall on September 10. The storm induced strong winds and heavy rainfall that caused the two dams to collapse in Derna. Derna, Albayda, and Al Mkheley are the most severely affected cities.

The IOM has identified several areas of emergency need including food, clean water, mattresses, and blankets. Reports show that the flood waters have washed away a quarter of Derna.

Tell us what you think of the situation in Libya.

What could have been done to prevent this disaster?

Is your country ready for the 2023 flooding season?

Published: 13/09/2023

Philip Ephraim

Yola, Nigeria

The death toll has reached 55 and could be higher because of wildfires in Maui in the US state of Hawaii. The fires which started on August 8, have continued to burn, leading to loss of life, property, and harm to the environment. Over 271 structures have been torched, including the Lahaina Beach Resort. Some have described the devastation as apocalyptic. Fumes from the fire have heavily polluted the air.

Investigations are still on about the actual cause of the fire. Some have attributed the cause to human action. Others point to possible natural causes including, volcanoes, lightning, and dry hurricane winds.

Speaking anonymously by phone to Philco News, a resident said, “I have lost everything…I have no documents, no passport, nothing…I just ran to safety with my family”.

Maui is in the northwest of Hawaii and is a hotspot for tourists. Many tourists are attracted to the Lahaina Beach Resort. Popular celebs own property on the island, of note, Oprah Winfrey.

The fires in Hawaii are grim pointers to the need to better protect our environment.

Published: 11/08/2023

Philip Ephraim

Calabar, Nigeria

The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) has issued flood alerts for 2023. Speaking to reporters, Muhammed Mukkadas, the Executive Secretary of KADSEMA said, “going by experience, the floods will begin at the end of August going into September”. Mukkadas added that the agency has identified all flood-prone local government areas and is taking proactive steps to mitigate the effects of the flood, including the dredging of rivers and desilting of water canals and drainages.  

Speaking anonymously to Philco News, a man commented that, “The 2022 floods were terrible, so many people lost their lives…till date, we cannot ascertain the number of those who died last year”. 

On the cause of flooding, another man commented that “people have built houses on water pathways, for example, in the Rigo Road area. Rents charged for these houses are cheap, and the occupants are unwilling to evacuate”. 

The Kaduna State SEMA’s alerts come a week after the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued flood alerts in 14 states and 31 communities in Nigeria. Ibrahim Farinloye, Coordinator of the Lagos Territorial Office, appealed to state governments and relevant bodies to take precautionary measures to mitigate the effects of flooding in 2023.

Published: 16/07/2023

Philip Ephraim

Calabar, Nigeria

HRM Bubraye Dakolo, King of the Ekpetiama Kingdom and Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council has severely reprimanded the operatives of the Joint Task Force and Tantita Security on the burning of a rogue oil vessel in the Escravos region in Delta State Nigeria. The vessel was leaving the country’s shores with illegal crude when it was intercepted by security operatives. Shots from Nigerian Airforce Helicopters set the vessel ablaze with its contents. The crew was arrested.

Speaking to Philco News on July 12, the monarch expressed his displeasure on the approach of the security agents. The monarch pointed out the lack of concern for the environmental consequences of the act.  King Dakolo described the act as barbaric and as “jungle justice from the fourteenth century”. The King stressed that huge fumes from the fire have worsened the methane pollution already caused by gas flares in the region and that oil from the vessel has further depleted marine life.

 The author of The Riddle of the Oil Thief, King Dakolo said that the whole incident was a coverup to destroy evidence. He argued that the Nigerian government knows the real oil thieves. He described the thieves as rich and influential people in power and close to power. This group owns various vessels and colludes with security personnel. He added that rogue vessels have operated nefariously in the region for several years. These vessels illegally convey Nigeria’s crude to countries like the UK, China, India, and other African countries.

The monarch argued that the crew on the vessel were mere pawns of the main thieves. The crew comprises poor, uneducated, and unemployed youths struggling to make a living.

On strategies to end or control oil theft in Nigeria, the monarch said that the power lies with the president. He said “Oil theft will stop whenever the President wants it to. The president must be firm about this…he should get the country working; create jobs for the youths and improve the economic situation in the region”.

Published: 15/07/2023

Philip Ephraim

Calabar, Nigeria

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