Floods destroy 32,837 houses, displace 227,494 persons – NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency has said that 27 states have been impacted by floods, with a total of 227,494 persons affected and 32,837 houses damaged.

NEMA disclosed this on Thursday, adding that 16,488 hectares of farmland with crops were also damaged.

The agency’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja by NEMA’s spokesperson, Ezekiel Manzo.

Umar said, “NEMA shall continue with public sensitisation as well as grassroots awareness through advocacies and workshops on solid waste management to raise public consciousness on the clearance of blocked drainages and waterways.

“So far, based on statistics from the NEMA Emergency Operations Centre established for the flood monitoring and coordination of resource deployment, 27 states have been impacted, with a total of 227,494 persons affected and 32,837 houses damaged, as well as 16,488 hectares of farmland with crops also damaged.”

She urged State Emergency Management Agencies and community leaders to be prepared for rapid flood response and reassured farmers not to panic about the temporary dry spell, as it would end soon according to NiMet’s predictions.

Umar said communities at risk of flooding and those living along waterways should relocate to safer, higher grounds ahead of the peak of the rainy season.

She called on all stakeholders, especially SEMAs and community leaders, to be ready to activate, at short notice, plans and preparations for floods with the increasing incidents in some parts of the country.

The NEMA boss, however, reaffirmed the commitment of the agency to coordinate and provide necessary support towards efficient disaster management across the country.She said NEMA has rapidly mobilised efforts to assess the damage caused by floods nationwide, adding that the agency was also coordinating relief operations with the various SEMAs.

This highlights NEMA’s proactive stance and readiness to address the nationwide crisis, the agency stated in its statement.

“The National Emergency Management Agency has responded to the recent flood incidents that devastated some communities across the country and commenced the conduct of assessment of the impacts with the various States Emergency Management Agencies to provide timely and appropriate support to the affected persons.

“The timely response by NEMA to the flood incidents is in furtherance to the early preparations made by the agency in the deployment of search and rescue teams and the placement of all NEMA zonal and operation offices on alert.

“The agency has also commenced the deployment of relief items to complement efforts by the various State Governments to provide succour to persons affected by the floods,” it stated.Flooding in Nigeria is a recurrent and severe issue, exacerbated by factors such as seasonal rains, poor drainage infrastructure, and deforestation.

The country experiences significant flooding during the rainy season, particularly in low-lying areas and regions near rivers and coastal zones.

Urbanisation and inadequate waste management often lead to blocked drainages, worsening the impact of floods.

In recent years, climate change has intensified these challenges, increasing the frequency and severity of flooding events.

The consequences are far-reaching, affecting millions of people through displacement, damage to homes and infrastructure, and disruptions to agriculture and livelihoods.

Efforts to manage and mitigate flooding include improved infrastructure, early warning systems, and public awareness campaigns.

SOURCE: PUNCH