The National Emergency Management Agency said 27 states were affected by the floods. A total of 227,494 people were affected and 32,837 houses were damaged.
NEMA disclosed this on Thursday, adding that 16,488 hectares of agricultural land, including crops, were also damaged.
The agency’s Executive Director, Zubaida Umar, disclosed this in a statement issued by NEMA spokesman, Ezekiel Manzo, in Abuja.
Umar said, “NEMA shall continue with public sensitization as well as grassroots awareness through advocacies and workshops on solid waste management to raise public consciousness on the clearance of blocked drainages and waterways.
“So far, based on statistics from the NEMA Emergency Operations Centre established for the flood monitoring and coordination of resource deployment, 27 states have been impacted, with a total of 227,494 persons affected and 32,837 houses damaged, as well as 16,488 hectares of farmland with crops also damaged.”
He urged state disaster management authorities and local leaders to prepare for a rapid response to floods and reassured farmers not to panic over the temporary drought, which NiMet predicted would end soon. Umar said communities at risk of flooding and people living along waterways should be relocated to safer higher ground before the peak of the rainy season.
He called on all stakeholders, especially SEMAs and local leaders, to be ready to initiate flood planning and preparations in the short term, given the increasing incidents in some parts of the country.
The NEMA chief, however, reiterated the agency’s commitment to coordinate and provide necessary assistance for efficient disaster management across the country. He said NEMA is making rapid efforts to assess the damage caused by floods across the country, adding that NEMA is also coordinating relief efforts with various SEMAs.
This underlines NEMA’s proactive stance and readiness to handle crises across the country, the agency said in a statement.
“The National Emergency Management Agency has responded to the recent flood incidents that devastated some communities across the country and commenced the conduct of assessment of the impacts with the various State’s Emergency Management Agencies to provide timely and appropriate support to the affected persons.
“The timely response by NEMA to the flood incidents is in furtherance to the early preparations made by the agency in the deployment of search and rescue teams and the placement of all NEMA zonal and operation offices on alert.
“The agency has also commenced the deployment of relief items to complement efforts by the various State Governments to provide succour to persons affected by the floods,” the statement said. Flooding is a serious recurring problem in Nigeria, exacerbated by factors such as seasonal rains, poor drainage infrastructure, and deforestation.
The country experiences extensive flooding during the rainy season, especially in low-lying areas and areas near rivers and coasts.
Urbanization and improper waste management often lead to blocked drains, worsening the effects of flooding.
In recent years, climate change has exacerbated these challenges, increasing the frequency and magnitude of floods.
Its impacts are widespread, affecting millions of people through displacement, damage to homes and infrastructure, and disruptions to agriculture and livelihoods. Efforts to manage floods and reduce their impacts include improved infrastructure, early warning systems, and public awareness campaigns.
