The National Emergency Management Agency reports that floods have struck 27 states, affecting 227,494 people and damaging 32,837 homes.
NEMA announced this on Thursday, noting that 16,488 hectares of cropland were also affected.
The agency’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, confirmed this in a statement issued in Abuja by NEMA’s spokesperson, Ezekiel Manzo.
Umar stated, “NEMA will continue to raise public awareness about blocked drainages and waterways through advocacies and workshops on solid waste management.”
“So far, based on statistics from the NEMA Emergency Operations Centre established for the flood monitoring and coordination of resource deployment, 27 states have been impacted, with a total of 227,494 persons affected and 32,837 houses damaged, as well as 16,488 hectares of farmland with crops also damaged.”
She advised state emergency management agencies and community leaders to be prepared for swift flood response and reassured farmers that the prolonged dry weather would pass soon, according to NiMet’s forecast.
Umar advised flood-prone areas and people who live near streams to shift to safer, higher land before the rainy season’s climax.
She urged all stakeholders, particularly SEMAs and community leaders, to be ready to activate flood plans and preparations on short notice, given the increasing number of events in several parts of the nation.
However, the NEMA director underlined the agency’s commitment to coordinating and providing required support for effective disaster management across the country.She stated that NEMA has quickly mobilised efforts to assess the damage caused by flooding across the country, and that the organisation is also coordinating relief operations with various SEMAs.
This demonstrates NEMA’s proactive approach and readiness to confront the national catastrophe, according to the agency’s statement.
“The National Emergency Management Agency has responded to the recent flood incidents that have devastated some communities across the country and has begun the process of assessing the impacts with the various State Emergency Management Agencies in order to provide timely and appropriate assistance to those affected.
“NEMA’s prompt response to the flood occurrences is a result of the agency’s early preparations, which included the deployment of search and rescue teams and the placing of all NEMA zonal and regional offices on alert.
“The agency has also commenced the deployment of relief items to complement efforts by the various State Governments to provide succour to persons affected by the floods,” it stated.Flooding in Nigeria is a recurrent and severe issue, exacerbated by factors such as seasonal rains, poor drainage infrastructure, and deforestation.
The country experiences significant flooding during the rainy season, particularly in low-lying areas and regions near rivers and coastal zones.
Urbanisation and inadequate waste management often lead to blocked drainages, worsening the impact of floods.
In recent years, climate change has intensified these challenges, increasing the frequency and severity of flooding events.
The consequences are far-reaching, affecting millions of people through displacement, damage to homes and infrastructure, and disruptions to agriculture and livelihoods.
Efforts to manage and mitigate flooding include improved infrastructure, early warning systems, and public awareness campaigns.