In Nigeria, flooding has increased in frequency as a result of both natural and man-made causes. Heavy rains during the rainy season, insufficient drainage systems, uncontrolled building, deforestation, and Environmental Degradation are the main culprits. Rising sea levels and more intense and erratic rainfall are two major effects of climate change. The issue is made worse by inefficient Waste Management and the disorganized flow of water from dams in nearby nations. The flooding crisis deepened in 2024, with over 205,000 people relocated across 28 states and 170 fatalities reported, mostly in the northern areas.
Despite the projections and warnings from organizations like Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), the nation is still not adequately prepared. Response times are hampered by logistical problems, poor coordination, little finance, and restricted access to remote locations, which are problems that coordinating agency like National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) must deal with. Nigeria frequently responds to flooding in a reactive rather than a proactive manner, placing insufficient focus on readiness and prevention. The uncoordinated and sluggish rehabilitation efforts following floods expose the impacted populations to further risk.
Experts warn that the situation will worsen without rapid intervention.
Even though there have been some public awareness campaigns, the dissemination of information is often ineffective, especially in rural areas where communities lack the resources or knowledge to implement flood prevention measures. Although Nigeria has made strides in incorporating Climate Change adaptation into national policies, local enforcement is inconsistent, leaving communities vulnerable. Enhanced coordination, improved infrastructure, improved public awareness, increased funding, and international cooperation are all necessary for effective flood management. Experts warn that the situation will worsen if significant intervention is not made.
According to Dr. Samuel Okeyo, a hydrologist at the Nigerian Institute of Water Resources, “poor Infrastructure and a lack of coordinated response are the main challenges, not just the heavy rainfall.” Urban planning does not take contemporary methods of water management into consideration, and our drainage systems are antiquated. He draws attention to the Netherlands, where sophisticated flood control techniques, such as levees, dams, and water pumps, have been effectively used to safeguard low-lying communities, and stresses the necessity for a thorough revision of Nigeria’s water management policy.
Increasing sea levels might force nearly 2M people to relocate by 2050.
Recent rains have badly damaged areas like Jigawa and Niger in northern Nigeria. Jigawa State’s Hadejia town provides a striking illustration of the ongoing turmoil. The town’s flood defenses are still insufficient, even after numerous flood alerts and forecasts. Amina Yusuf, a local, relates, “Every year we get warnings, but there’s not much we can do about it. Our homes are destroyed by the water, and everything is lost.” The circumstances in Hadejia are indicative of a larger pattern in Nigeria, wherein forecasts frequently do not materialize into significant action on the ground.
Furthermore, experts advise taking steps including technological innovation, policy reform and enforcement, infrastructure strengthening, community engagement, and Education to enhance flood management in Nigeria. Rising sea levels, more intense rainfall, and erratic weather patterns are some of the ways that climate change makes Nigeria’s flooding problems worse. This is especially true for the Niger Delta, an area already beset by environmental devastation. In the Niger Delta, increasing sea levels might force nearly 2 million people to relocate by 2050 if nothing is done, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
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Additionally, Nigeria’s flood control plan has to include adaptation measures. Expert on climate change at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency Dr. Funmilayo Adeyemi says that “restoring natural barriers like mangroves and wetlands and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as flood-resistant roads and buildings, can significantly reduce the impact of flooding.” To mitigate the long-term effects of climate change, it is imperative to implement these measures in conjunction with international collaboration. One example of this cooperation is the coordinated management of dams with neighbouring countries.