Floods in Nigeria Claims Lives, Destroyed Farmland, Spark Food Security Worries

Photo : AP

Weeks of severe flooding in Nigeria have resulted in nearly 200 deaths and widespread destruction, including the loss of homes and farmlands. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that the floods have claimed 185 lives and displaced approximately 208,000 people across 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states. The ongoing disaster is further exacerbating food security concerns, particularly in the hard-hit northern region.

According to NEMA's update on Friday, the floods have triggered urgent efforts to evacuate tens of thousands of people to temporary shelters as water levels continue to rise. The devastating impact of the floods is being attributed to a combination of poor infrastructure, inadequately maintained dams, and human activities that have aggravated the situation.

The current flooding crisis follows a series of annual flood events in Nigeria, often linked to failures in environmental management and infrastructure shortcomings. The worst previous flooding occurred in 2022, which resulted in over 600 deaths and displaced more than 1 million people. This year's floods, however, differ from the 2022 disaster as they are less related to unusual rainfall and more to human-induced factors, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

Stay informed with the latest news. Follow DXB News Network on WhatsApp Channel

Ibrahim Wasiu Adeniyi, head of the central forecasting unit, noted that the floods this year are driven by climate change and poor urban planning. He highlighted issues such as indiscriminate waste dumping and unauthorized construction along waterways as significant contributors to the crisis.

The disaster management agency has warned that the situation may worsen in the coming weeks as floodwaters continue to move toward central and southern states. Manzo Ezekiel, a spokesperson for the agency, urged residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate immediately, emphasizing that time is running out.

In Jigawa State, the most severely affected area, 37 deaths have been reported. Local authorities are repurposing public buildings and schools to serve as shelters for displaced individuals. Nura Abdullahi, head of emergency services in Jigawa, described the situation as “devastating.”

The floods have also had a profound impact on agriculture. In northern states, where much of Nigeria's harvests originate, approximately 107,000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed. This devastation adds to the already challenging conditions faced by farmers, who are struggling due to economic hardship and violent attacks. As a result, Nigeria now has the highest number of hungry people in the world, with 32 million individuals, or 10% of the global total, facing acute hunger, according to the U.N. food agency.

Abdullahi Gummi, a resident of Zamfara State’s Gummi council area, shared the personal toll of the floods. His family’s farmland, which was their primary source of income, has been destroyed. “We spent around 300,000 naira ($188) on planting, but everything is gone,” Gummi lamented, reflecting the severe economic impact of the flooding.

Aug. 31, 2024 3:40 p.m. 533

#trending #latest #NigeriaFloods #FloodingNigeria #DisasterResponse #FoodSecurityCrisis #NEMA #ClimateChangeImpact #FloodDamage #HumanitarianAid #NorthernNigeria #FarmDestruction #EvacuationEfforts #NigeriaEmergency #headlines #topstories #globalUpdate #dxbnewsnetwork #dxbnews #dxbdnn #dxbnewsnetworkdnn #bestnewschanneldubai #bestnewschannelUAE #bestnewschannelabudhabi #bestnewschannelajman #bestnewschannelofdubai #popularnewschanneldubai