The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has reported that 1,048,312 people have been impacted by floods in Nigeria between April and September 2024. According to the agency’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, 625,239 individuals have been displaced, and 259 lives have been lost due to the flooding.
Speaking at the National Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF) in Abuja on Thursday, Umar expressed her sympathy to those affected and assured them that the Federal Government, through NEMA, would provide necessary support. She emphasized that while floods cannot be fully prevented, efforts are being made to lessen their impact.
Umar revealed that 29 states and 172 local government areas have been hit by the disaster. She stressed the importance of a coordinated response to handle the situation and noted that NEMA had activated Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in several states, sending staff to assist with search and rescue operations. Additionally, water purification tools and other critical resources have been deployed to the affected areas.
Umar thanked international partners for their assistance and urged them to continue monitoring the situation. She also highlighted that the Nigerian government remains capable of managing the crisis.
Wagami Madu, Assistant Director of Search and Rescue, reported seven deaths in Borno as of Saturday and pointed out challenges in Maiduguri, such as shortages of supplies and facilities in IDP camps. Meanwhile, Mrs. Emmanuela Offiong, Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, called for accurate communication and fact-checking in disaster management to avoid misinformation.
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