ABUJA, Nigeria – The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has announced that floods have claimed 259 lives and displaced over 625,000 people in Nigeria so far in 2024.
These figures were presented by NEMA Director General Zubaida Umar during the National Emergency Coordination Forum, ECF, on Friday, September 13, 2024, where stakeholders gathered to reassess strategies and responsibilities in response to the widespread flooding.
According to Umar, the floods have impacted 1,048,312 people across 29 states and 172 local government areas (LGAs).
Borno has been the worst-affected state, and the flooding has been exacerbated by the failure of the spillway at the Alau Dam.
“The severity of the incident in Borno State, due to the broken spillway of the Alau Dam, has worsened the flooding in that area,” Umar said.
However, she added that overall, the flood disaster follows trends predicted in the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released earlier this year by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
The AFO had indicated that from July to September, 33 states and 135 LGAs were in high-risk flood areas, while 19 states and 44 LGAs are expected to be at risk between October and November.
Umar commended the swift response of Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, which have taken the lead in the rescue and relief efforts.
Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been activated in the state to shelter those forced from their homes by the rising floodwaters.
“Our agency commends the government of Borno State for spearheading the response and activating IDP camps for those affected,” said Umar.
“NEMA, alongside other federal agencies, is currently providing nationwide interventions to assist the affected states.”
NEMA’s ongoing interventions include deploying additional personnel for search and rescue operations, distributing water purification systems, and providing critical search and rescue equipment.
The agency also supplies food and non-food items to support displaced populations.
In her remarks, Umar reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to assisting those affected by the disaster.
“Through our agency, NEMA, the Federal Government commiserates with those that have been affected by the flood disaster and assures them that necessary succor will sustainably be provided,” she said.
NEMA has also acknowledged the role of humanitarian partners in supporting the government’s flood response efforts.
Umar expressed optimism about continued collaboration among stakeholders to alleviate the suffering of those affected and to mitigate the long-term impacts of flooding across the country.
Flooding has been a persistent problem in Nigeria, affecting millions of people annually. With the rainy season continuing, further interventions are expected to reduce the impact on vulnerable communities in flood-prone areas.
