Flooding: At least 6 killed, 10,000 displaced in Nigeria

At least six people are known to have died in flooding in northern Nigeria on Monday which has left at least 10,000 homeless across 11 communities.

Officials in flood-prone Adamawa State are worried by the downpours that have caused latest flooding, because the rainy season is yet to peak.

The rains cause rivers such as the Benue to overflow, leading to widespread inundation of communities, farmlands, and infrastructure.

“Due to climate change and a lot of other factors, the floods have come earlier than we expected and it caught a lot of our people unawares,” said Adamawa State Deputy Governor Kaletapwa Farauta.

“Even if we are expecting floods, it is not in August, usually we always put our minds to September,” she added.

The state government acknowledged on Wednesday that the flood may not have been worse than in previous years, but has urged people in low-lying areas along the Benue River to move to one of eight internal displacement camps set up in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency.

In 2022, Nigeria experienced its worst flood in more than a decade, killing more than 600 people, displaced around 1.4 million and destroyed over 400,000 hectares of farmland.

Flooding problem in Northern Nigeria:

Flooding in Northern Nigeria has become a recurring and devastating issue, affecting millions of people and causing widespread destruction.

The region’s unique geography and climate make it prone to flooding, with the Niger and Benue rivers frequently overflowing their banks and causing widespread inundation.

The short but intense rainy season in the area also leads to flash flooding, further exacerbating the problem.

Deforestation and land degradation have increased runoff and reduced the land’s ability to absorb water, making the situation even more dire.

The consequences of flooding in Northern Nigeria are severe, with displacement of people and disruption of livelihoods being the most significant.

Homes, crops, and livestock are destroyed, leaving families without shelter, food, or income.

The increased risk of waterborne diseases also puts a strain on the region’s already overburdened healthcare system.

The statistics are alarming. In 2020, flooding affected over 2 million people in Northern Nigeria, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA).

The economic impact is also significant, with flooding causing an estimated ₦1.5 trillion (approximately $3.9 billion USD) in damages in 2019, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

To address the issue, the government must invest in flood control infrastructure, such as dams and levees.

Reforestation efforts and sustainable land management practices can also help reduce runoff and mitigate the effects of flooding. Climate-smart agriculture and urban planning can also help communities adapt to the changing climate.

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