Flood: 1,061,254 persons displaced, 634,035 houses damaged nationwide — NEMA DG

The Director-General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, on Thursday in Kebbi disclosed that no fewer than 1,061,254 persons have been displaced by flood, while 634,035 houses damaged and 94,741 farmlands have submerged across the country.

The Director General who was represented by Dr Daniel Obot, who is the Director, Disaster Risk Reduction of the Agency, warned that 16 local government areas of Kebbi State are predicted to be affected by flood this year.

She said the aim of early warning strategies was to integrate direct risk communication and engagement approaches to disseminate early warning message for early actions at the state, local government, and community levels.

”The rainfall and flood advisories contained in the Season Climate Prediction (SCP), and Annual Flood Outlooks (AFO) of Nigeria, Meteorological Agency and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), respectively, have provided us with vulnerable early warning alerts.

”Consequently, all of us are expected to take actions that drastically reduce the adverse impacts of floods on the entire lands and the Nigerian population, especially for the most vulnerable persons living in communities identified to be at risk of flooding,” she added.

Umar revealed that the statistics from the National Emergency Coordination Centre (EOC) of NEMA as at Friday, Sept. 13, indicated that 176 LGAs in 30 states including FCT were effected, as against the 148 LGAs and 31 states predicted by NIHSA.

”About 1,061,254 persons are affected; 634,035 are being displaced; 94,741 houses are either damaged or destroyed, while 125,805 hectares of farmlands can be regarded as submerged or crops being washed away across the country.” She said.

The Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, commended the Agency and its team of experts for their initiative for the 2024 Downscaling of Flood early Warning Strategies Actions.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy Senator Abubakar Umar-Tafida, said: ”Your expertise and resources will bolster our efforts to protect lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.”

Pointing out that the state had experienced severe flooding, which affected at least 13 LGAs recently, displacing communities and affecting agricultural produce.

”Your visit will help identify more areas of urgent need and enhancing flood early warning systems, strengthening emergency preparedness and response, as well as providing relief and rehabilitation support,” he said.

Governor Idris reiterated the committed of his administration to collaborating with NEMA to ensure effective flood management and disaster risk reduction and controls.