The Federal Ministry of Environment has predicted heavy rainfall in 24 states that may cause floods between Tuesday (yesterday) and Saturday.

In a statement signed by Mr Ekong Ekanem, Deputy Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management, the ministry named Imo, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi, Kastina and Borno as the states likely to be affected.

Others are Plateau, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Gombe, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Eboyi, Cross River, Enugu, Benue and Ondo states.

The statement identified areas that could be most affected to include Afikpo in Ebonyi  and Okigwe in Imo; Gembu and Lau in Taraba; Numan and Mubi in Adamawa; Shelleng in Plateau; and Wara in Kwara.

It also listed Zaria, Kafin-Madaki, Jema'a and Shanga in Kaduna; Kangiwa, Goronyo, Shagari, Sokoto, Wamakko, Isa and Gummii in Sokoto State.

Others are  Katagum, Azare, Bajoga, Misau, Darazo, Jama'are and Kirfi in Bauchi State as well as Bokori, Katsina, Funtua, Daura, Kaita and Bindawa in Katsina State.

The ministry also named Geidam, Shinkafi, Briyel, Bama, Biu, Dikwa and Biu in Borno as well as Katsina-Ala, Vande, Ikiyi, Gboko, Gbukuru, Igumale and Ito in Benue as likely areas of flooding.

It also listed Ringim, Gwaram, Gumel and Hadeija in Jigawa, Bukwium, Maru and Gusau in Zamfara; Nafada and Gombe in Gombe State as well as Anka, Argungun, Yelwa, Ribah and Bungudu in Kebbi as potential areas of flooding.

The statement added: "Areas which can be affected by the downpour-induced flood include Rijau and Wushishi in Niger; Ugba in Abia; Abakaliki, Echara Onu, Ezilo and Nkalagu in Ebonyi.

"The rest are Ikom, Itigidi, Obubra and Ogoja in Cross River, and Igbokoda in Ondo State."

The statement appealed to the governments of the respective states to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid loss of lives and property, considering that previous warnings had saved lives and property.

The statement also said that an alert had been sent to areas likely to experience windstorm during the rainy season.

It said that any change in the prediction would be announced as weather forecasting was based on probability