Weeks of floods kill nearly 200 in Nigeria, displace 200,000

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Sharjah 24 – AFP: Weeks of flooding in Nigeria have resulted in at least 179 deaths and displaced approximately 200,000 people, according to an emergency official. The intense rains have primarily affected the northern regions, damaging at least 107,600 hectares (265,885 acres) of farmland, as reported by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

While most fatalities have occurred in the north, NEMA spokesman Ezekiel Manzo warned that central and southern regions could experience more severe impacts as rainfall continues. He noted that flooding has also affected areas previously not known for such issues, particularly along the Niger and Benue rivers.

Flooding, exacerbated by heavy rains and inadequate infrastructure, has caused significant devastation in Nigeria in the past, with over 360 deaths and more than 2.1 million displaced in 2012, and over 500 deaths and 1.4 million displaced in the worst floods in a decade in 2022.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced that authorities will issue warnings to reduce the impact of environmental disasters, and emergency officials are preparing plans to prevent further occurrences.