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The National Economic Council (NEC) has officially declared the extensive flooding affecting approximately 34 states in Nigeria a national emergency and major disaster. This announcement was made by Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, during a press briefing following the NEC meeting in Abuja.
- Impact of Flooding:
- Affected Areas: About 34 states and 217 local governments are impacted.
- Displacement: Approximately 1,374,557 individuals have been affected, with 740,743 people displaced.
- Casualties: The flooding has resulted in 321 reported deaths and 2,854 injuries.
- Property Damage: Around 281,000 houses have been affected, and 258,000 acres of cultivated farmland have been destroyed or impacted.
Action Steps
- Emergency Management: The NEC has directed State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) to enhance their efforts and work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to address the crisis.
- Waterway Management:
- The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation is tasked with conducting an integrity review of all waterways and dams across the nation.
- There is a strong emphasis on initiating a comprehensive dredging or desilting program for the waterways, with plans for annual maintenance to prevent future flooding.
- State Reports: The council has urged state governments that have yet to submit their flood reports to do so immediately to assess the situation and manage the disaster effectively.
- Funding for Resilience: The NEC noted the necessity for the Green Climate Fund to include an Infrastructure Resilience Fund as part of its components to support flood management and resilience initiatives.
The declaration of a national emergency underscores the severity of the flooding crisis in Nigeria and highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to address the humanitarian and infrastructural challenges it poses.
