By Clifford Ndujihe
Borno
18 September, the floods had killed at least 37 people, injured 58, and displaced at least 414,000 in Borno state
No fewer than 15 persons were reportedly killed and over 3,000 others were displaced by floods
between early August to early September in Katsina State. 21,481 others also sustained various degrees of injuries as a result.
No fewer than 68 persons have reportedly lost their lives to floods recorded in Kano and Jigawa states since the beginning of rainfall in July.
Giving a breakdown of the number of casualties, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Isyaku Kubarachi, puts the figure of casualties recorded in the state at 31. At the same time, his counterpart, the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Haruna Mairiga, said the death toll hit 37.
Kubarachi, who confirmed this while speaking to newsmen in Kano, said the flood, which affected about 156 communities across 21 Local Government areas of the state, also left 135 persons sustaining injuries.
The Executive Secretary further said the flood also destroyed 5,280 houses, with 31,818 persons affected and 313 persons displaced.
According to him, “Between July 11th and yesterday (Tuesday), we received reports of flooding, and we are still receiving reports. So far, 31,818 people have been affected, and 5,280 houses have been destroyed by the flood. The disaster has also led to the destruction of 2,518 farmlands, covering 976 hectares of land, and 31 lives were lost while 135 sustained injuries.
“The disaster was a result of heavy downpours, and most of the affected houses were mud houses sitting along waterways.
Chidi Nzeadibe: The case of flooding in Maiduguri is as a result of the failure of a dam. This flooding covered about 70 percent of Maiduguri, submerging and displacing communities and caused infrastructure damage. Wildlife and other animals such as crocodiles and snakes escaped from the zoo.
However, there seems to also be increasing incidence of flood in some northern states ostensibly induced by changes in the climate regime.
Conversely, some areas in the southern parts of Nigeria are experiencing incidences of reduced precipitation likely induced by global climate change.
Under normal circumstances, southern Nigeria should be experiencing increased precipitation about this time of the year but surprisingly, we seem to notice a reduction of rainfall amounts in September which ordinarily would have recorded the second rainfall maxima. The rainfall maxima would usually occur in July and September respectively.
We should also not discountenance the effect of “the little dry season” which some people commonly refer to as August break, a period of reduced precipitation every year.
Chidi Nzeadibe is professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability. He is currently the Dean, Faculty of the Social Sciences UNN
Professor Ifeanyi Enete,
it all boils down to the issue of climate change. The on-set of rainy season has changed, forcing rainfall to accumulate more at the end of the rainy season. As such, the hydrological season and planting period reduced. This period of rainy season is intense, heavy,and short. The duration of this intense rainfall is too big for soil to absorb leading to flooding. Again, the numerous dams that are not well- taking care of is exacerbating the overflow within the region.
August 11: Heavy rainfall recorded in Gatsa Town, Buji Local Government Area of Jigawa state has destroyed 100 houses.
August 15: Sixteen people died in a flood incident in 10 local government area of Jigawa state.
September 6: A torrential downpour has wrecked havoc in Kano State destroying buildings, farm crops and other valuables.
September 10: Flood cuts off 5 communities, kills 2 at Kafanchan and other villages in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
September 12: Maiduguri flood disaster: 2 die in stampede for food
September 13: 37 dead, over 414,000 displaced in Borno flood
September 14: Flood wreaks havoc in Azuoto, Okpuitumo Community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi, destroys houses, farmlands
As of September 18, 2024 no fewer than 285 persons were drowned across the country, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA; and Reliefweb.
The flood situation across Nigeria has become a major humanitarian crisis, with 31 states and 180 local government areas (LGAs) severely affected. Over 1,083,141 individuals have been impacted by the relentless rains, leading to widespread displacement, loss of lives, and destruction of homes and livelihoods. The floods have left 641,598 persons displaced, 285 people dead, and 2,504 injured. Houses, farmlands, and critical infrastructure have been devastated, with 98,242 homes affected.
In states like Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Jigawa, tens of thousands of individuals are struggling to cope with the aftermath. Borno alone has 414,000 affected persons, Bauchi has 94,022 affected persons, while Sokoto follows closely with 83,000. In terms of displacement, Borno, Sokoto and Bauchi are also among the hardest hit, with 389,267, 48,000 and 36,000 displaced persons respectively. The destruction of farmlands has further aggravated the crisis, threatening food security in these regions, with Bauchi experiencing the worst hit with 50,000 hectares submerged. Access to affected areas has been significantly hampered by the collapse of critical infrastructure such as bridges and culverts. In Yobe State, for instance, culverts in Garin Gada along the Potiskum-Jakusko and Jimbam along the Bayamari-Dapchi roads have collapsed, making it difficult to deliver humanitarian aid to isolated communities. Damaged access roads in Damaturu and Fune LGAs have further hindered relief efforts, prolonging the suffering of displaced populations who are in urgent need of food, shelter, and healthcare. The flooding has compounded pre-existing vulnerabilities, especially for those living in mud shelters. In Yobe State alone, over 5,865 shelters have been destroyed, leaving thousands without a roof over their heads. The displaced are now exposed to further risks of waterborne diseases, particularly in areas where health facilities have been damaged or rendered inaccessible. Clean water and sanitation remain top concerns as families struggle to access basic services. The Nigerian government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), state emergency agencies (SEMA), and humanitarian partners has initiated relief efforts across the worst-affected states.
