The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had consistently issued annual flood warnings, but not enough is done to address it, the Deputy General Manager of Public Weather Services, Dr Ibrahim Wasiu has said.

He regretted that actions taken by authorities and communities have not been sufficient enough to prevent the devastating impacts of flooding across the country.

“From what I've seen so far, they might have taken some actions, but it's not good enough. It's not good enough because all these coastal cities already know that at the peak of the rainy season, just like this month, the water level will come up,” he said.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Dr Wasiu said NiMet provides timely weather forecasts, warning alerts and seasonal climate predictions to help governments, communities and individuals prepare for extreme weather events.

He noted that the agency's Seasonal Climate Prediction is released at the beginning of every year, while monthly outlooks, including flash flood forecasts, are issued to guide proactive planning.

“NiMet is saddled with the responsibility to provide timely and accurate reporting of weather and climate information for socioeconomic development and the safety of lives and property. We have a central role to play to provide and continue to monitor what is going on in the atmosphere.

“We issue weather warning alerts, weather forecasts, and we provide seasonal climate predictions. A lot of products come out from NiMet, all just to make sure that the public is well-informed.

“The seasonal climate prediction, for instance, is released at the beginning of the year so that you have an idea of the annual outlook of what is before you for that year. This is particularly in terms of rainfall: the amount, the intensity, the duration, and the length of the rainy season, so that the public can plan ahead before time. This is what we have been doing before now, and we will continue to do it,” he assured.

He attributed the worsening floods to indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels, construction on waterways, inadequate drainage infrastructure and poor attention to weather forecasts.

“We see indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the waterways. People block the waterways; they build on waterways; the proper infrastructure is not there anymore. Those narrow gutters you see now were built some years back. They are not based on rainfall intensity and climate projections, which would give you the volume of water supposed to be considered before you design such drainage. These are things that we are supposed to put into consideration before embarking on building our waterways and all of that,” he stressed.

Dr Wasiu further urged Nigerians to become more weather-aware and climate-ready, stressing that acting on early warnings can significantly reduce the impact of flooding.

“People these days don't pay attention to the weather. When you don't pay attention to the weather, you don't know what is before you, and you won't plan ahead. So when it comes, it will be like you didn't plan for it. NiMet, on its own, is doing a lot. We just want people to be weather-aware and climate-ready,” he urged.

Acknowledging that some measures may have been taken in response to NiMet's warnings, Dr Wasiu maintained that they have not gone far enough, and called for greater public sensitisation in identified flood-prone communities, stricter protection of waterways, and stronger action to address the growing threat of extreme weather events driven by climate change and climate variability.

“In places like flood-prone areas that have already been identified, you need to educate people, sensitize them, and let them leave those flood-prone areas.

“Then again, sensitize people also not to start dumping refuse in the waterways. Don't block the water; it will definitely have its course. It will definitely find its way, and that is part of the problem we are facing now.

“And of course, we also know that recently, we have been having an increased frequency of extreme weather events as a result of climate change and climate variability. These are things that are there in the public domain. It's just for us to work with this information to be able to reduce the impact of some of these hazards,” he advised.

Explaining that persistent rainfall has saturated the soil in many parts of the country, Dr Wasiu said the ground can no longer absorb additional rainwater. He noted that in heavily built-up cities such as Lagos, where green spaces have been replaced by concrete structures and paved surfaces, rainwater is forced to flow as surface runoff, significantly increasing the risk of flooding.

“It's simple. You have continuous rainfall. The soil has its water retention capacity. The moment you continue to have this rainfall day in and day out—like the case of Lagos, where consecutively for about two weeks, we've had rain back-to-back—the infiltration capacity and percolation capacity of the soil will definitely not be able to allow this water to go down.

“Therefore, 90% to 95% of the water will continue to be runoff. This is particularly true in cities where almost all the surfaces are paved, which doesn't allow infiltration. So, you have most of the water ending up as runoff. It's more common in Lagos. If you go to Lagos, you can hardly see any green areas. The whole place is filled with shops, buildings, and structures.

“And some places that are supposed to be green areas, with grass and shrubs, now have structures. They are cemented and paved. So, this doesn't allow water to infiltrate. What it means is such water will end up as runoff. And when you have runoff, it becomes an issue,” he warned.

Addressing the role of climate change in the increasing incidence of extreme weather events, the weather expert said extreme weather events are largely driven by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels. He warned that without reducing emissions, the impacts of climate change will continue to worsen.

“It's not only Lagos. Weather has no boundaries; it is worldwide. The climate impact we are seeing now is human-induced climate change. It's a result of activities that we do, such as the burning of fossil fuels, coal, and all of that. This results in what is known as climate change.

“If it is not reduced, we will continue to see these extreme weather events. We will continue to experience it, and this is not good for us,” he added.

Highlighting efforts to ensure its forecasts are acted upon, Dr Wasiu said NiMet brings together state governments and other stakeholders each year to present its Seasonal Climate Prediction before the rainy season. He also said the agency publishes its weather forecasts and other products free of charge across its social media platforms to improve public awareness and preparedness.

“At the beginning of every year, even before the rainy season starts at all, you see NiMet bringing together stakeholders, including state governments and stakeholders generally, on board for the public presentation of the Seasonal Climate Prediction.

“Then again, NiMet sensitizes the public. It's not just for the Seasonal Climate Prediction. If you check all our social media platforms, every forecast and product from NiMet is free on social media.”

On how NiMet's sensitisation outreach reaches rural communities, Dr Wasiu said the agency works with state governments, NGOs and extension workers to take weather and climate information to grassroots communities, particularly farmers and residents without access to technology. He added that NiMet also translates its Seasonal Climate Prediction into five local languages to improve accessibility.

“We work with state governments, NGOs, and partners to make sure that at the end of every forecast—like the Seasonal Climate Prediction—the information is downscaled to the states.

“Such states work with NiMet to downscale it. Extension workers work with NiMet to ensure that such information gets to the grassroots of the country, particularly those farmers, villagers, and those who have no access to technology. NiMet works with the state governments, NGOs, and other collaborators to make sure that such information gets to them.

“Furthermore, the Seasonal Climate Prediction we are talking about is translated into five different local languages so that people can understand,” he outlined.