The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that the current flood crisis in Nigeria has affected 29 states and 172 local government areas, impacting over 1 million people, displacing 625,239, and claiming 259 lives.
NEMA Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made this announcement at the National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting in Abuja, emphasizing the need for a coordinated response to the disaster. She highlighted that flood predictions had been disseminated to stakeholders earlier in the year, but the severity of the situation requires immediate attention.
The agency has activated Internally Displaced Persons camps, deployed additional staff for Search and Rescue operations, and provided water purification equipment, food, and non-food items to affected states. Further plans include providing medical consumables, evacuating people at risk, and conducting in-depth damage assessments.
While acknowledging international support, Mrs. Umar assured that the situation is still manageable for the Nigerian government. She encouraged partners to continue their assistance while monitoring the situation, and urged stakeholders to work together to alleviate the suffering of affected individuals and mitigate the disaster’s impact.
