How climate change caused displacements in 2023

Some minutes earlier, they were snuggling in the coziness of their rooms; the ceilings radiated warmth, and the space allowed them to stretch their arms widely. There were various food options and alternatives for digestion. Joy and laughter filled every corner—it was a true home for humanity.

Some minutes later, they found themselves on the street, expelled from the warmth of their home. They watched helplessly as their roofs, beds, pots, and food items, along with other valuables, eloped with the flood. Shattered, they embraced the street as their new home.

Since the beginning of the year, thousands have been displaced by floods caused by heavy rainfall across the country.

In January 2023, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in its seasonal climate prediction, said there would be an early onset of rain, which would begin in the southern states of Nigeria in March.

The agency said the rainfall would be delayed before reaching other parts of the country—mostly the northern states—in July.

Even though the nation was still slowly recovering from the 2022 flooding burdens, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warned that the country was at risk of severe flooding in 2023 due to heavy rainfall.

OVER 171,000 DISPLACED BY FLOOD IN 2023

Nigeria’s flooding history has been disastrous, causing many residents to lose their lives, their means of livelihood, and their homes. This continues to add to the number of internal displacements aggravated by violence and conflict in the country.

In October, the National Emergency Management Agency said over 33,000 persons were affected by floods disaster across different parts of the country, while the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), in its prediction of the 2023 annual flood outlook, said 178 LGAs in 32 states including the federal capital territory (FCT) are within the highly probable flood risk areas, adding that over 30 million land space were washed away by the flood in 2023.

The prediction showed that the 2023 floods could be worse than 2022.

The agency said 7,353 persons were displaced across 10 states in the country, while 1,679 farmlands were submerged as of August.

Although, Mustapha Ahmad, NEMA director-general, said the agency will reintroduce the emergency coordination meeting to “pay proper attention to disaster management”, not less than 20 states had already experienced one degree of flooding or another as of August 2023.

In October, NEMA said about 171,545 people were displaced as a result of the widespread flooding in parts of the country.

FLOOD DISASTERS IN COMMUNITIES

Earlier this year, many areas were submerged, and a resident was swept away by a flood while returning from work in the Oba-Ile area of Akure, the Ondo state capital.

In September, five people from different communities lost their lives as a result of flooding. Several houses and infrastructures were submerged in Fufore, Yola South, and Mubi South LGAs of Adamawa.

The development followed a warning from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) encouraging residents living in the riverine areas to relocate to safer regions.

In Delta, a rainfall that lasted over a week caused floods in more than five communities in Warri north LGAs. Residents of Torukubuagbene, Awanba, Koropigbene, Itagbene, and Asigborodo were all affected by the flood, which occurred in September.

In Plateau. Three people died after a flood swept away their communities in Jos north LGA of the state.

FLOOD INDUCED DISPLACEMENTS

According to the International Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), two villages in two Adamawa LGAs recorded 106 new displacements due to flooding in the area.

Since October 5, about 51,043 people have been displaced, and in November, the State Emergency Management Agency recorded a total of 35,014 flood-induced displacements across the state.

SEMA in Plateau said 1,304 people were displaced and living in host communities after the flood wreaked havoc on their settlements, while Anambra state recorded 642 displacements in August. The figure rose to 9,918 in November.

In Niger state, rainfall accompanied by heavy downpours penetrated Rafin Gora village in Kontagora LGA and rendered 369 people homeless in July 2023.

A total of 70 households were displaced by the flood in the Yangoji area of Abuja, while not less than 9,700 people were sacked from their homes in Bauchi and 85 in Kano.

According to IDMC, windstorms and rainstorms displaced 1,086 in Kebbi, 3,843 in Nasarawa, and 2,323 in Plateau state.

In Lagos, the flood displaced 3,929 as of November, 225 in Ebonyi, and a total of 12,346 in Enugu—one of the worst-hit states in 2023.

In Sokoto, 770 people lost their homes to flooding and 168 others to windstorms and rainstorms from January to November.

In Taraba, a flood ruined the homes of 39100 people and 4295 people in Gombe state. In Benue, 1103 windstorms triggered displacement, and 1649 people suffered displacement in Zamfara between January to November.

DISASTER PALLIATIVES

Isa Sanusi, director of Amnesty International, said the government must uphold and promote the rights of all without discrimination and ensure a decent standard of living by “guaranteeing access to a standard of living, adequate food, housing, healthcare and education.”

Food is crucial, water and healthcare are important as mental imbalance has been recognised as one of the devastating burdens of displacement.

Even though shelter tops the list of needs of the displaced persons, NEMA recently commenced the distribution of food and non-food items to victims of the 2023 floods across the country.