According to a recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the education sector suffered greatly due to a succession of floods in select regions of the country from July to October last year. The devastating impact of these floods resulted in an alarming average of 53 school days missed by numerous students. Stated in the report that focused on the Assessment of the Consequences and Recovery Strategies for the Flood Disaster in Nigeria 2022-2023, it was revealed that a staggering number of 1,302,789 individuals from Nigeria experienced adverse effects.
The report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) outlined a range of states that bore the brunt of the impact, encompassing Bayelsa, Delta, Anambra, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Jigawa, among various others. According to the report, a significant percentage of households encountered the floods for different durations. Approximately 41.1% of the affected households experienced the floods for a span ranging from one to 11 days. Likewise, 39.9% of the households were burdened with the floods for precisely 32 days.
Education of children and wards was disrupted for a considerable period.
Notably, in Bayelsa, Anambra, and Delta states, the floods persisted for over 32 days for the inhabitants residing there. According to the report, the occurrence of floods in Jigawa and Nasarawa states varied from a minimum of one day to a maximum of eleven days. The report stated that the education of children and wards was disrupted for a considerable period in 35.9% of households across the country. On the other hand, in Bayelsa, an overwhelming 87.6% of households experienced this impact on their children’s schooling.
Furthermore, the figures for Delta stood at 42.4%, Kogi at 40.8%, and Nasarawa at a comparatively lower 10%. In every state, nearly half of the individuals residing in rural regions experienced disruptions in their education, with schooling being temporarily halted for a period of time. Conversely, in urban areas, the proportion of affected individuals was significantly lower, at 14.8%. Anambra stands out as the state with the largest number of school days missed, reaching a total of 73 days.
Male-headed households were able to recover more swiftly.
In contrast, Nasarawa experienced a significantly lower count of only six days without schooling. After the floods subsided, the reopening of schools was limited, as approximately 94% of educational institutions reopened. Surprisingly, 97% of the reopened schools were found in urban regions, while 92.7% managed to resume their activities in rural areas. According to the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), male-headed households were able to recover more swiftly compared to female-headed households.
This is in regards to the management of the impacts of the flood crisis. The NBS report did not provide specific figures regarding the impacted educational institutions in affected states, yet it indicated that numerous schools encountered significant losses, including the destruction of classroom buildings, teaching tools, facilities, and books, to name a few. During the period of the report, a portion of the schools had resumed operations, yet certain amenities were still awaiting replacement.
Approximately 1,000 lives were lost to the crisis.
Certain areas of the country are facing a persistent issue with excessive flooding due to the inundation of riverbanks caused by the overflowing waters of the Niger and Benue Rivers. Additionally, in certain states within the Niger Delta region, their waters are drained into the ocean. In addition to the severe consequences on the education sector, the floods brought devastation to healthcare facilities, agricultural lands, and various other aspects. Tragically, the nation mourned the loss of approximately 1,000 lives.
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