Flooding in Nigeria Claims Lives and Destroys Farmland, Threatening Food Security

Severe flooding in Nigeria has led to nearly 200 fatalities and extensive damage to homes and agricultural land, as reported by the country’s disaster management agency. This disaster poses a serious threat to food security, particularly in the northern regions that have been most affected.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that the floods have resulted in 185 deaths and displaced approximately 208,000 individuals across 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states. The scale of the disaster has prompted urgent evacuations as hundreds of thousands seek temporary shelter.

Flooding is a recurring issue in Nigeria, often attributed to inadequate infrastructure and the neglect of environmental regulations. The previous year witnessed the most catastrophic floods in recent history, claiming over 600 lives and displacing more than 1 million people.

This year, however, the situation has been somewhat different. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency noted that while heavy rainfall contributed to the floods last year, this year’s flooding is largely linked to human-induced factors. Delayed or normal rainfall was predicted for most of the country this year.

“Our activities are driving climate change and shifting from the norm,” stated Ibrahim Wasiu Adeniyi, head of the central forecasting unit. He highlighted issues such as indiscriminate waste disposal and unapproved construction near waterways.

The disaster response agency has warned that flooding conditions may worsen in the upcoming weeks as the waters move towards central and southern states. “People in flood-prone areas need to evacuate now because time is running out,” urged spokesperson Manzo Ezekiel.

Jigawa state has been particularly hard-hit, reporting 37 deaths due to the flooding. The impact has been termed “devastating,” with authorities working to convert public facilities and schools into shelters for those displaced from their homes, stated Nura Abdullahi, head of emergency services in the state.

The floods have wreaked havoc on agricultural lands, damaging around 107,000 hectares, particularly in the northern areas that supply a significant portion of Nigeria’s agricultural yield.

Many farmers in these regions are struggling to maintain their livelihoods, grappling with the rising cost of farming inputs amid ongoing economic difficulties, as well as violent attacks that have forced some to flee their lands.

This situation has contributed to Nigeria having the highest number of people facing hunger globally, with around 32 million individuals, or 10% of the world’s acute hunger cases, affected, according to the United Nations food agency.

In the Gummi council area of Zamfara state, resident Abdullahi Gummi lamented the loss of his family’s farmland, which served as their primary source of income. “We spent approximately 300,000 naira ($188) on planting, but everything has been destroyed,” he expressed.

The floods demonstrate a significant interplay between climate issues and local vulnerabilities, underscoring the urgent need for improved infrastructure and sustainable practices to mitigate future disasters.

The ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from these floods highlights the necessity for immediate assistance to affected families and a reassessment of environmental management practices to prevent future tragedies.

Source: AP