Over 500 lives have been lost, more than 1.4 million persons affected and over 90,000 homes destroyed by floods.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, has disclosed in Abuja, yesterday.
Represented by the Director of Humanitarian Department, Ali Grema, she said: “As a matter of fact, the scale of devastation can only be compared to the 2012 floods. More than 500 lives have been lost, more than 1.4 million persons affected, about 90,000 homes either partially or completely destroyed; and still counting.
“And also destroyed are thousands of hectares of farmland; thus, worsening fears of a disruption of food supply in Africa’s most populous country. These widespread cases are in 27 out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“So, as we reflect on the present flood situation in Nigeria, let’s consider the focus of the 2022 IDDRR.
“Did we not have enough warnings or was our predictions and flood outlook wrong? Did we not act enough to prevent or mitigate what we’re confronted with today?
“While we shall not apportion blames, we need to acknowledge the fact that we all had enough warning and our advocacy was timely.
“However, communities must recognise that all disaster are local and they must take climate predictions and flood outlooks warnings seriously. We can’t outrightly eliminate flood but we can keep people safe. That responsibility is collectively ours.”
Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed, said 12,000 tons of grains had been released to the 24 affected states.
Ayakoro settlement in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has been submerged leaving no fewer than three people dead.
Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ayibaina Duba, confirmed the incident while commiserating with the families of the victims.
Paramount ruler of the community, Righteous Inegbagha, called on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to mitigate the impacts of the flood on the people.
He said the flood disaster had not only rendered thousands of his subjects homeless, but had also affected their sources of livelihood, with other economic activities also paralysed.
“Our people cannot visit their farms due to the ravaging effects of the disaster,” he said.
Inegbagha expressed regret that for over a week, people of the community had been residing in their water-logged houses.
He emphasised the need for government to provide relief materials, such as food, clothes and drugs for the affected people, adding that they should be evacuated to temporary camps to save them and their property. The traditional ruler said his palace, which used to play host to some of the victims, had now been made inhabitable due to over-crowding and lack of enough space.
