NEC: 1.3m Nigerians affected by flood across 34 states

The national economic council (NEC) says more than 1.3 million Nigerians were affected by floods in 34 states.

Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra, spoke in Abuja on Thursday after Vice-President Kashim Shettima presided over the NEC meeting at the State House.

Soludo said 321 persons died due to flooding while 740,000 others were displaced, adding that 281,000 houses were also destroyed and 258,000 cultivated farmlands were affected.

The governor said the council urged state-level emergency agencies to “up their game” and enhance their collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“You know the country is facing a national emergency with regard to flooding, and the reports so far identify a major national disaster,” he said.

“We’ve been called upon to note that to date, about 34 states have been affected, 217 LGAs, 1,374,557 persons already affected, and 740,743 were displaced nationwide.

Also, 321 persons dead, 2,854 persons injured, and 281,000 houses were destroyed, as well as 258,000 cultivated farmlands also destroyed or affected by the ravaging flood.

“Council deliberated on the actions, particularly at the subnational level, and got up on the SEMA, the various state emergency management agencies, to up their game and increase the collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).”

Soludo said NEC also urged the federal ministry of water resources and sanitation to carry out a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s waterways and dams to identify structural vulnerabilities.

The governor noted that the council stressed the importance of implementing an annual desilting programme for waterways to mitigate future flood risks.

He said the NEC urged states that have not yet submitted their flood impact reports to do so, adding that the reports are crucial for creating targeted relief programs.

“The council also recommended that the green climate fund incorporate a resilience infrastructure fund component to support communities in flood-prone areas,” Soludo said.

“NEC called for an expansion of dam construction and flood control systems, especially along the Niger River and in regions that have been heavily affected, such as the south-east and south-south.”