At least, 27 out of Nigeria’s 36 states are currently being impacted by flood which is threatening to sweep away the residents and their properties. Though a recurring tragedy, this rampage has been at its absolute worst this year. Even the country’s capital, Abuja has been under a threat of this threat that has displaced hundreds of thousands of families and destroying more farmlands and produces. As such, many experts believe that the country might be in danger of a hunger situation, as the flood has overtly disrupted the agricultural production.
76 people were reported dead due to their boat capsizing as they tried to escape the dangerous high floodwaters that have ravaged the southern parts of Nigeria. This incident occurred in Anambra, one of the states that have been immensely impacted by the flood that has risen as high as the rooftops. The country’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that over 600,000 people have been displaced in the area with over 300 people dead as a result of this disastrous situation.
At least 6 reported dead in the underwater Ibaji community.
NEMA had previously warned of a potential flooding disaster for the states located around the courses of River Niger and Benue, noting that three of the country’s reservoirs were overfilled and expected to overflow. This catastrophe followed the flooding situation that devastated the north central Kogi state a week ago, where numerous buildings were submerged under a flood that had never risen to this level in decades, according to Kogi state’s Red Cross Society. At least, 6 persons which includes a toddler were reported dead in the Ibaji district of Kogi, the worst hit area confirmed by the state governor as being 100% underwater.
Yahaya Bello, Kogi state’s governor during his October 1 address, described the flooding as a severe humanitarian tragedy. Kogi state’s capital, Lokoja being the area of confluence between two of Africa’s largest rivers, River Niger and Benue. Simi Adeodun, an environmentalist stated that the inundation was as a result of the bank of the lower Niger River being overwhelmed. He further revealed that asides Lokoja, most riparian communities along the area of River Benue in Nasarawa state, as well as River Niger traversing the barrier between Niger and Kwara states had also been submerged.
Submerged roads also render travelers stranded, trapped in flooding areas.
The Kogi State Red Cross Society noted that many houses, as well as roads had been submerged in Lokoja, rendering many people homeless. The submerged roads which served to link the north central and southern parts of the country together meant that travelers had been stranded. Some were reportedly trapped for days in flooding areas. Okeke Grace Eche, narrating her traveling experience from Lokoja to Abuja stated that the trip which was supposed to be only a few hours lasted two days and was the most terrifying two nights of her life. Locals, in most of these submerged areas are taxiing themselves with canoes which Abdullahi, a member of the Red Cross Society said was liable to cause more fatal accidents.
Yahaya Bello, after visiting these submerged areas by canoe, stated that his administration was working to immensely reduce the flood impact in these communities, whilst also urging those affected to relocate to the available displaced camps in the state. NEMA revealed that the release of excess water from a dam in Cameroon had added to the already disastrous flooding situation that had ravaged Nigeria. This release of the water cascades to the River Niger and Benue had caused more inundation of communities that were already affected by heavy precipitation. NEMA further revealed that the released excess complicated the situation in Nigeria as the country’s inland reservoirs were also expected to overflow through October and thus, predicting the crisis to have serious complications on frontline states along the River Niger and Benue courses.
Climate activists calling for climate finance to salvage this crisis.
According to NEMA, Anambra and Kogi states were among the predicted 13 states expected to be overrun by the overflowing water. Reports claim that Kogi state has been severely impacted this year by flooding than what was recorded during the last major flooding in 2012. Asides Kogi state, Nasarawa state is also experiencing a severe flooding crisis which have resulted in the loss of numerous ravaged farmlands and produce. In Adamawa state, people are reportedly dying from flood-related incidents. 37 people were reported dead and over 170,000 others displaced. Climate activists are however urging the need for climate finances to salvage the climate crisis in Nigeria.
Related Link
FloodList: Website
