The anticipated flooding events of 2024 have started to affect different states in Nigeria, signalling the start of a challenging season that was forecasted earlier in the year by multiple meteorological and environmental agencies. Communities, infrastructure, and people’s livelihoods in the impacted areas are already suffering greatly as these floods begin. Just a few days ago, the federal highway that runs from Kano to Maiduguri was badly damaged by a heavy downpour, in the area between the villages of Malori and Guskuri in Katagum Local Government Area, Bauchi State.
A significant portion of the road had collapsed due to the heavy downpour, leaving a sizable crater and forcing motorists to find alternate routes. During a visit to examine the damaged road, Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammad emphasized the road’s importance as an essential route connecting Northeast and Northwest areas of Nigeria. Governor Muhammad called on the Federal Government to promptly fix the damaged road as soon as possible so that citizens can enjoy easier access to goods and services.
Govt mandated an expeditious evaluation of the road.
David Umahi, the Minister of Works, voiced concerns about the damage to a portion of the newly reconstructed Kano-Maiduguri highway. In a statement issued by his press aide, Umahi described the flooding-related damage as awful, pointing out that recently constructed roads in the nation frequently don’t last even five years. He stated that Mothercat Limited, the contractor that executed the project, will be requested to join the ministry’s team to investigate the reason behind the road’s collapse, which is on section three of the Kano-Maiduguri road.
In response, the Federal Government, acting through the Ministry of Works, has mandated an expeditious evaluation of Section 111 of the Kano-Maiduguri Road, which has been rendered unusable by the recent flood. The Minister of Works gave assurance that the ministry would seek an emergency solution in order to lessen the inconveniences that road users would experience. This would particularly benefit the residents of the Malori-Guskuri community in the Katagun Local Government Area of Bauchi State, whose livelihood has been negatively impacted by the road destruction.
Experts advocated for actions to boost disaster readiness.
Similar to Bauchi, other states in Nigeria have also experienced high flooding this year. Floods struck Adamawa, especially in the vicinity of Yola, the state capital. Emergency responses from state and federal authorities were prompted to address the flooding that caused substantial damage to Infrastructure and forced thousands of residences to evacuate. Heavy rainfall in Lekki, Ajah and Lagos, caused widespread flooding that damaged homes and infrastructure. Despite the state government’s aggressive efforts to mitigate floods, the volume of water in the city still overwhelms the drainage system.
As the flooding season goes on, there are mounting concerns that the situation could worsen, particularly if the rains get heavier in the upcoming weeks. Experts have advocated for immediate action to boost disaster readiness and fortify flood defences in susceptible locations. This entails making improvements in more effective drainage systems, building flood barriers, and putting early warning systems in place to notify populations of approaching floods. Longer-term solutions are also required to address the core causes of flooding, which include the effects of climate change, inadequate land use planning, and deforestation.
Related Article: Poor drainage worsen flooding in Nigeria
Warnings about the likelihood of above-average rainfall during the 2024 rainy season, which might cause extensive flooding, had been sent in advance by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). Based on comprehensive climate models and historical data, these alerts indicated that a number of states were particularly vulnerable, especially those in large river basins. Despite these early warnings, many states’ preparations efforts have proven to be inadequate, and the floods have begun to wreak devastation sooner than anticipated.