According to the government, the worst floods to hit Nigeria in a decade have killed almost 500 people and forced 1.4 million more to leave their homes.
Large portions of Africa’s most populous nation have experienced flooding as a result of heavy rainfall and weak infrastructure, raising concerns that these conditions could exacerbate food poverty and inflation.
According to the Nigerian Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, “about 1.4 million people have been displaced, around 500 people have been reported deceased, and 1,546 people have been injured.”
Rhoda Ishaku Iliya, the ministry’s deputy director of information, adding, “Similarly, 45,249 dwellings were totally ruined… while 70,566 hectares of farmlands were completely destroyed.”
The most recent data came from last weekend, according to AFP’s interview with National Emergency Management Agency spokesman Manzo Ezekiel on Wednesday.
While the rainy season typically starts in June, Ezekiel noted that the majority of deaths and evictions began “around August and September.”
An official of the ministry of humanitarian affairs Nasir Sani-Gwarzo stated, “We are making all the required efforts to bring relief to the people affected by the flood.”
This week, a lack of fuel led to lengthy lines at gas stations in Abuja because tankers were obstructed by flooding in neighboring states.
During last Friday’s flooding of the Niger River, a boat capsized in the southern Anambra state, killing 76 persons.
The rainy season finishes typically in November in northern regions and in December in the south, so further copious rains are anticipated in the upcoming weeks and months.
The Meteorological Agency posted on Facebook that until Thursday, “heavy rainfall is forecast over portions of Taraba, Ebonyi, Benue and Cross Rivers State,” adding that “flash flooding is likely.”
Floods were also brought on by the opening of various dams, a procedure designed to stop excessive flooding.
According to Ezekiel, “people violate regional planning (laws) by erecting (houses and buildings) near rivers,” which contributes to the high amount of damage.
Over 2.1 million people were affected by flooding in 2012, resulting in 363 fatalities.
Climate change has a disproportionately negative impact on Sub-Saharan Africa, and many of its businesses are already suffering from the fallout from the conflict in Russia and Ukraine.
Rice farmers have cautioned that the devastating floods may have an impact on prices in the 200 million-person nation where rice imports are prohibited to boost domestic production.
Last month, the World Food Programme and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization declared that Nigeria was one of six nations that posed a serious threat of experiencing an extreme case of hunger.
