The widespread flooding in Nigeria has become a national concern, as residents in over 16 states have had their lives disrupted. One of the country’s most prevalent problems is lives and properties being threatened by the worst flooding case that has ravaged the country in a decade. Recall in 2012, Nigeria was reported to have lost N2.6 trillion, with over 7 million people displaced, an estimated 600,000 houses destroyed, and another 363 people killed. The recent flood cases, caused by the heavy rainfall and the release of excess water from the Cameroonian dam have raised much concern as to the safety of the residents affected by this rampage.
Although this issue is a recurring one that continues to plague Nigeria, it has been at its absolute worse this year. This rampage, according to government officials has reportedly left over 1.4 million Nigerians displaced, with 500 people dead. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development stated that the flood has also impacted 1,546 injured casualties, destroyed 70,566 hectares of farmlands and damaged 45,249 houses.
Landsat 9 revealed major swellings of the Niger and Benue rivers.
Satellite imagery from Landsat 9 revealed major swellings of the River Niger and Benue in southern Nigeria, where NASA indicated that floodwaters inundated numerous communities. At the convergence point of the rivers, the imagery showed floodwaters overwhelming Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. According to NASA’s report, this flooding continued to the south with a noticeable extensive spread in southern Kogi and the Northern parts of Anambra State. 76 people were reported to have drowned in Anambra last week after their boat capsized while trying to escape the flood. In states like Kogi and Anambra, floodwaters have risen to to rooftops, leaving over 600,000 people without shelters.
Chiamaka Ibeanu, a registered nurse who resides in the Onitsha area of Anambra stated that this situation has been so saddening to witness. She said that people, regardless of their economic statuses, have been immensely reduced as a result of the displacement. She disclosed that her family, who resides at Ossomari and Atani have also become victims of displacement due to their houses being submerged. She complained about most of her family’s possessions being in ruins.
Grema urged communities to adhere to climate prediction warnings.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have long predicted imminent flooding since the beginning of the rainy season which runs from April through to October. These agencies had also indicated that parts of the country would witness an increased rainfall, paired with the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon which would catalyze the heavy flooding, as they foresaw an increase in Nigeria’s water volume.
Nigeria’s Director of Humanitarian Affairs, Alhaji Ali Grema noted that these disasters were recognizably local and this, communities must learn to take note of climate predictions and flood outlook warnings. Sani-Gwarzo again stated that this flooding situation was similar to the last major experience in 2012, where at least 30 of 36 states were overtly affected by the flooding. Sadiya Umar, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, in his statement, also pointed that the level of devastation caused by this flood could only be compared to the 2012 situation.
Food scarcity predicted for next year due to flood sweeping away farms.
However, while Nigeria’s National policy Document on Climate Change, published in 2020 indicated that with the increase of flood in recent years, climate change is expected to increase the intensity of severe weather events, most states in Nigeria have not been able to accrue the necessary infrastructures for adequately responding to these challenges. The country is predicted by numerous experts to experience food scarcity next year due to the flood sweeping away numerous farms and produces. The Humanitarian Affairs Ministry however disclosed that the Federal Government has been working to ensure the provision of relief materials to these affected communities.
Related Link
FloodList: Website
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Wow the flood this year is massive I just implore the government to help build God and better drainage to forsee future re occurence
It is quite unfortunate Nigeria is not proactive on important matters. The Cameroonian dam was going to release it’s water, and Nigeria was already notified. I don’t understand why the government didn’t quickly alert the inhabitants of these areas. A lot has been lost due to this unfortunate flood
This flood really cause alot of damage, destroy and take many lives I hope our government learn from this and do the necessary thing to stop this from happening again such as build drainage and so on
As a result of the severe flooding in Nigeria, inhabitants in over 16 states have had their lives turned upside down. This has turned into a national worry.
There has been a lot of worry expressed over the safety of the people living in areas recently flooded due to severe rainfall and the release of surplus water from a dam in Cameroon.
It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to see to it that relief supplies are distributed to the communities that have been affected .
This flooding is getting too much. It has affected a lot of people and their homes. Government need to make provision to assist the ones that has been affected
Govt should respond adequately to these flood challenges are posing. They should ensure the provision of relief materials and services(in state of emergency) to these affected communities are rendered.
The fact that this is a recurring problem, and the government doesn’t see it deem fit to provide a lasting solution just shows irresponsibility. It happens, they fo damage control, forget about it till oy happen again
It’s unfortunate that severe flooding in Nigeria has caused residents’ lives to be disturbed, but the situation has become a national concern as a result.
The recent flooding incidents, which were brought on by the heavy rains and the discharge of excess water from the dam in Cameroon, have aroused a great deal of concern for the safety of the citizens who have been impacted by this rampage.
This problem, which has been plaguing Nigeria for a long time and will likely continue to do so, has reached its nadir this year, which is a very unfortunate development.
Landsat 9 data showed significant increases in the Niger and Benue rivers in southern Nigeria, where NASA reported widespread flooding.
The number of people, irrespective of their socioeconomic standings, has been drastically reduced as a direct result of displacement.
It had been predicted by these organizations that regions of Nigeria would see higher rainfall, which, in tandem with the release of surplus water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, would cause widespread flooding.
This flood actually caused a lot of damage, destroyed a lot of things, and took many lives; I hope that our government will learn from this and take the necessary steps to prevent flooding like this in the future, such as building drainage systems.
The flooding recurring tales is not new to some of us. Government never care nor said anything about the states that where flooded. The present and pass government should created a means of controlling the flood.
I hope that our government would take note of this flood’s serious damage, devastation, and fatalities and take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening again, such as constructing drainage systems.
The government that we have is not ready to do any work. If the Cameroonian are releasing their dams then our government should create what can prevent it from flooding the country.
This has been a recurring problem. Yet the government don’t see the need to be proactive. We do almost everything ourselves. Do they expect residents to build dams too?