Nigeria has once again been gripped by a severe flood crisis, with over 1 million individuals affected across 31 states as of mid-September 2024. The disaster, triggered by unusually heavy rains and the collapse of critical infrastructure, has caused widespread displacement, loss of life, and destruction of homes and farmlands. The country’s annual rainy season, which began in April, saw peak rainfall between July and September, bringing devastation to communities across Borno State, Plateau State, and other regions.
In Borno State, heavy rains between August and September resulted in significant flooding across many Local Government Areas (LGAs), displacing tens of thousands of households. On September 9, the collapse of the Alau Dam in Konduga LGA worsened the situation, inundating Maiduguri, the state’s capital. This is the first time the Alau Dam has overflowed since 2012, compounding the flooding caused by continuous rains. The floods have destroyed homes, critical infrastructure, crops, and shelters, further destabilizing livelihoods.
According to the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), more than 320,791 individuals from 65,731 households have been affected in Borno State alone. These include internally displaced persons (IDPs) and residents who have remained in their flood-damaged communities. The floodwaters have severely impacted the agricultural sector, particularly as most crops were near harvest, a blow to an already food-insecure population.
This scenario is not limited to Borno. In Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau State, over 80 households were displaced after three days of relentless rainfall. The flooding hit the Sabon Gida community hard, with families losing their homes and farmlands submerged. Mr. Solomon Nandul, a resident of the area, described the scene as “confusing and devastating,” with many now relying on neighbors and relatives for shelter.
The Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sunday Abdu, assured that emergency experts would be deployed, and relief measures were being organized for the affected households. However, the response remains hampered by the scale of the destruction.
Nationwide Impact: A Humanitarian Crisis
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports that between July and September, 29 states across Nigeria experienced exceptionally high rainfall, with over 1,083,141 people impacted and 641,598 displaced. More than 285 lives have been lost, and 2,504 individuals injured. The devastation extends to homes, farmlands, and vital infrastructure, with 98,242 houses affected and 6,490,307 square meters (649 hectares) of farmland destroyed.
These alarming statistics, confirmed by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), indicate a growing humanitarian crisis. The flooding has displaced around 390,000 individuals, with 245,500 people forced to seek shelter in IDP camps and collective centers. In several states, including Borno, Yobe, and Kogi, bridges have collapsed, schools have been shut down, and access to hospitals and markets has been severely restricted.
The long-term consequences are expected to be dire. With farmland destroyed and infrastructure damaged, food insecurity will likely increase. A significant portion of the population, especially in rural areas, depends on subsistence agriculture, and the loss of crops threatens not only their food supply but also their livelihoods.
Causes and Persistent Flooding
Nigeria’s flood problem is exacerbated by a combination of climate variability and human-induced factors. Rising global temperatures, driven by climate change, have altered rainfall patterns, leading to more intense and unpredictable weather events. According to the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), this year’s floods are part of a disturbing trend where more frequent and severe rainfall events are becoming the norm, resulting in floods that overwhelm outdated and poorly maintained infrastructure.
The collapse of the Alau Dam is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Nigeria’s infrastructure to extreme weather. This aging dam, constructed to store water for agriculture and supply potable water to Maiduguri, had not overflowed in over a decade. But the dam was unable to withstand this year’s excessive rainfall, resulting in its collapse and subsequent flooding.
In addition to climate-related issues, urbanization, deforestation, and poor land-use planning have worsened flood risks. Many communities are built on flood plains or along riverbanks without adequate drainage systems. Rapid urban growth has also led to the destruction of natural waterways, causing rainwater to accumulate rather than flow away.
Nigeria’s flood management system, including its dam and drainage infrastructure, has been stretched to the limit. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and state emergency agencies are often reactive, struggling to respond after disasters occur. Early warning systems remain underdeveloped, and many communities lack access to basic information on how to prepare for or mitigate the impacts of flooding.
The 2022 Flood Crisis: A Warning Ignored?
The floods of 2024 bear a grim resemblance to the disaster of 2022, which saw over 1.4 million people displaced and more than 500 fatalities. At the time, experts warned that without significant investment in flood prevention and mitigation, future disasters were inevitable. Despite these warnings, few concrete measures have been implemented to protect vulnerable communities.
The World Bank estimated the economic loss from the 2022 floods at $5 billion, with agriculture among the most severely affected sectors. Similar losses are expected in 2024, compounding the country’s already challenging economic situation.
The Path Forward: Mitigating Future Floods
To prevent the continued devastation caused by annual floods, Nigeria must prioritize climate adaptation and disaster preparedness. Investment in infrastructure, such as dams, levees, and drainage systems, is essential. Furthermore, enforcing environmental regulations to prevent the destruction of natural water bodies and wetlands can help absorb floodwaters and protect communities.
Climate-smart agriculture must be promoted, especially in regions like Borno and Plateau, where farming is critical to livelihoods. Drought-resistant crops, improved irrigation systems, and efficient water management practices can reduce the impact of floods on agriculture and food security.
The government must also expand its early warning systems to ensure that communities receive timely information about impending floods. Education campaigns should be rolled out to raise awareness about flood risks and teach communities how to respond before, during, and after floods.
In the long term, addressing the root causes of flooding in Nigeria will require coordinated efforts from federal, state, and local governments, as well as support from international organizations. This includes integrating climate resilience into all levels of development planning and ensuring that communities have the resources they need to adapt to the new realities of climate change.
For now, Nigeria remains on high alert, with emergency services stretched thin as they respond to the needs of over a million people displaced by the 2024 floods. It is hoped that this year’s devastation will spur lasting changes, ensuring that the country is better prepared for future floods.
