Flood crisis affects 1.3 million Nigerians across 34 states, urgent national response needed — NEC
By Kunle Sanni
The National Economic Council (NEC) reports that 1,374,557 people across 34 states have been affected by this year’s devastating floods, which have caused significant loss of life and property.
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State provided these figures on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after the NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He noted that the flooding disaster has claimed 321 lives, injured 2,854 individuals, and destroyed approximately 281,000 homes and 258,000 hectares of cultivated farmland.
Governor Soludo emphasized the need for improved coordination between state-level emergency management agencies (SEMAs) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to enhance local support.
“The country is facing a national emergency due to flooding, and reports indicate that this is a major national disaster,” he stated. “To date, 34 states and 217 local governments have been affected, impacting 1,374,557 people, with 740,743 displaced nationwide. Tragically, 321 lives have been lost, and 2,854 individuals have sustained injuries. Additionally, 281,000 houses and 258,000 hectares of cultivated land have been damaged or destroyed by the flood.”
To address long-term flood prevention, Governor Soludo highlighted the necessity of an annual program for dredging and desilting waterways.
He also called for the Green Climate Fund to establish an Infrastructure Resilience Fund to support critical flood mitigation projects in severely impacted regions, particularly in the Southeast and South-South areas, which have been significantly overlooked in dam construction projects aimed at reducing flood impacts.
As the crisis continues, Governor Soludo urged state governments that have not yet submitted detailed flood reports to do so promptly. This will enable a coordinated approach that aligns federal and state resources for effective disaster management.
