Nigerian Federal Government: 603 Dead, 1.3m Displaced By Floods

According to the federal government, flooding in Nigeria have killed at least 603 people and forced 1.3 million others forced to leave their homes.

A total of 31 states are expected to experience flooding in 2022, with Kogi, Anambra, Kebbi, Delta, Bayelsa, and Jigawa among the states where flood-related deaths have been reported.

In addition, Sadiya Umar Farouq, the minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and social development, revealed that 332, 327 hectares of land had been completely damaged, 2,504,095 people had been affected, and the hellish situation of those affected by the flood in several states was getting worse.

At a press conference held yesterday in Abuja, the minister revealed the statistics and urged Nigerians not to panic despite their legitimate fears about the disastrous floods that have hit the entire nation.

Other statistics showed that there were 2,407 injuries, 121,318 partially destroyed homes, and 108,392 partially ruined acres of cropland.

According to Umaru Farouq, all the state governments had numerous warnings, but they did not take the necessary action to prevent the extent of the destruction.

She emphasized that by November 2022, the administration must begin bilateral talks with Cameroonian officials about periodically opening the Lagdo dam.

“Flood can be controlled and managed, even if it has become an annual tragedy with terrible effects and the effect of climate change makes it difficult to prevent in Nigeria,” she said.

The meeting decided to form a powerful delegation to state governors to press for greater commitment to strengthen state response mechanisms as specified in the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan because there has been enough warning and information about the 2022 flood, but states, local governments, and communities don’t seem to be paying attention.

“Stakeholders will work within their duties to stop flood-related deaths and other health-related illnesses that will follow.

“We need to start a bilateral conversation with Cameroonian officials over the Lagdo dam’s recurring opening next month (November 2022). The PS will serve as the delegation’s leader, and support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be requested;

The National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan will be implemented, it was decided at the meeting, “for a coordinated flood response protocol; hence, the sectoral approach to flood management at the national and sub-national levels must be absolutely implemented.”

She emphasized that state governments must make investments in flood management and take the lead on locally based early warning systems. As a result, the summit urged for state governments to assume more responsibility for flood planning and response.

The minister of humanitarian affairs said that everyone agreed that it was now required to use a legal mechanism to compel all state governments to strengthen their LEMCs and SEMAs in order to give them better access to resources for disaster preparedness and response.