More than 600 people have lost their lives as Nigeria grapples with the devastating floods that have wreaked havoc in 33 of its 36 states.
The country’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, in a statement, said that more than two million people have been severely impacted by the floods.
According to the ministry, over 2,000 persons have been injured, with more than 200,000 homes completely or partially damaged.
The Humanitarian Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, warned state governments, local governments, and community leaders, especially in Anambra, Rivers, Cross River, Delta and Bayelsa states of the impending floods in the coming weeks.
She called on the state governments to begin evacuation of persons living along water channels and other areas obstructing the flow of water.
According to the ministry, distribution of food and non-food items to the affected states has commenced.
Early warning, no action
The Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) released the Seasonal Climate Prediction for 2022 in February. The agency informed the ministry that the rains of 2022 will be heavier and longer.
Also, on 12 May, 2022, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) released its Annual Flood Outlook, predicting likely flooding.
Despite the early warnings, proper proactive steps were not taken to mitigate the impact in flood-ravaged states.
The flooding has resulted in situations where corpses float into residential areas, causing health risks to community inhabitants.
Also, some companies, including the Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas company (NLNG), have declared force majeure due to the flooding.
State response
The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, in a television interview, said his government has been ‘cleaning up drainages just to let water get to the river but now water from the rivers now overwhelm one-third of the state, even a little more than one-third of the state’.
For his part, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Duoye Diri, declared a seven-day break for civil servants following the difficulties faced by the flooding while admitting that the state cannot handle the situation on its own.
In neighbouring Delta State, the government said it has opened ten camps to accommodate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the floods in 19 of the 25 local government areas (LGAs) that make up the state.
In Kogi State, a civil society organisation (CSO), Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), recently lamented the slow response of the government to the flooding.
It is pertinent to note that despite interventions from the government, as claimed, thousands of displaced citizens are still struggling to find shelter.
The federal and state governments must take concrete measures to avert recurrence.
In particular, the federal government should stop blaming its Cameroonian counterpart for the flooding, and take active steps in alleviating the suffering faced by the citizens.
State governments should also make available toll-free numbers to help coordinate quick response to areas where disastrous cases have been reported.
Photo source: Conflict & Development at Texas A&M
