NEMA: 49 killed, 41,344 displaced by floods in north-east

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says at least 49 people have lost their lives to floods in the north-east.

The federal government had said 148 LGAs in 31 states are at risk of severe flooding from April to November 2024.

It added that 249 LGAs in 36 states, including the federal capital territory (FCT), fall within the “moderate flood risk states”.

Reuters reports that Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA spokesperson, said 41,344 people have been displaced by flooding in Jigawa, Adamawa, and Taraba states.

Ezekiel said floods caused by heavy rains have destroyed more than 693 hectares of farmlands in the region.

“We are just entering into the peak of the season, particularly in the northern part of the country and the situation is very dire,” Ezekiel said.

“We also have information about the high tide in the upper countries of the River Niger before Nigeria. All of these are flowing towards Nigeria. We are beginning to see a manifestation of our predictions.”

On August 15, NEMA said flooding has affected 227,494 people and damaged 32,837 houses in 27 states.

The agency added that flood disasters have damaged 16,488 hectares of farmlands.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) earlier disclosed that about 100 families were displaced by flooding in Gantsa, Buji LGA of Jigawa.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said at least 16 persons have lost their lives and 3,936 displaced in 10 LGAs of the state.