Seven local government areas in Yobe State are expected to experience significant flooding within the next ten days, according to the Fanfair Forecast, a flood management project in West Africa funded by the European Union.

According to the forecast, the local governments of Yusufari, Yunusari, Bursari, Geidam, Karasuwa, Nguru, and Bade would be impacted.

Fanfair predicted that the Nuguru axis would be below severity level 3, while other areas would be below severity level 2, and elsewhere would be above the normal threshold.

Another forecast released by Glofas on Thursday, however, pointed to an increasing risk of flooding with a 5-year return period that might peak in the upcoming 10 days in the aforementioned LGAs.

In terms of rainfall, the Glofas forecast indicated 70–80% chances of extreme rainfall exceeding 50mm across Yobe and Adamawa States.

“The combined effect of extreme rainfall and the rising water level will increase the chances of flooding in the next 10 days.

“There is a high risk of flood warning level 3 forecast over the next 10 days in some LGAs in Yobe State”, it said.

It is against this backdrop that the state government, through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other strategic partners, a isintensifying efforts by engaging local authorities in the risk areas and communities to monitor and prepare for the flooding.

Director Information Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, Mrs. Husna Ibrahim, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Damaturu on Friday.

She tasked the authorities in the listed local governments to watch for heavy rainfall and rising water levels in the next 10 days along the Yobe River due to the medium possibility of heavy rainfall and strong water discharge, as well as update their flood contingency plans.

”The LGAs are advised to monitor the potential riverine flooding situation and strong winds due to heavy rainfall and strong winds and provide technical assistance if needed”, she admonished.