The National Emergency Management Agency has revealed that over 1 million Nigerians have been impacted by flooding between April and September 2024.
According to The News Agency of Nigeria, the agency’s Director-general, Zubaida Umar, shared the grim statistics during the National Emergency Coordination Forum in Abuja, held on Thursday.
In her address, Ms. Umar disclosed that a staggering 1,048,312 individuals have been affected by the disaster, with 625,239 people displaced from their homes, and tragically, 259 lives lost.
Offering her condolences to the victims and their families, she reassured them that the federal government, through NEMA, is committed to providing the necessary relief and assistance.
“The primary reason for convening this meeting is to receive updates on the flood situation and to assign specific roles and responsibilities to stakeholders,” Ms. Umar stated, highlighting the government’s proactive approach to addressing the crisis.
She acknowledged that while it may not be feasible to fully prevent flooding, ongoing efforts are focused on reducing its severity and impact.
The agency has mobilized resources to alleviate the effects on the affected populations across 29 states and 172 local government areas, which have borne the brunt of this year’s flooding.
“While it is impossible to completely prevent flooding, we are actively working to mitigate its impacts,” she emphasized, underscoring the necessity of a well-coordinated disaster response.
Ms. Umar further elaborated on NEMA’s actions, noting that the agency has set up Internally Displaced Persons camps in several states, increased manpower to boost search and rescue efforts, and distributed water purification systems along with essential rescue equipment to affected regions.
These measures aim to not only provide immediate relief but also to support long-term recovery efforts.
She also took a moment to appreciate the contributions of international partners, urging them to maintain their support and closely monitor the ongoing situation as relief efforts continue.
“The primary purpose of the meeting was to review the current flood situation, assign responsibilities to stakeholders, and discuss our response strategy,” Ms. Umar reiterated, emphasizing the critical importance of a coordinated approach among all levels of government and partners.
As the forum progressed, attention was drawn to the scale of the displacement and the ongoing risk to vulnerable communities, with a focus on how to strengthen preparedness for future disasters.
Ms. Umar’s address also highlighted the agency’s commitment to ensuring that those impacted are not left behind, and that relief reaches all corners of the affected areas.
