603 people dead, 2.5m displaced as Nigerian govt warns of more floods
October 17,2022
Not less than 603 Nigerians have lost their lives while 2.5 million have been displaced by the rampaging floods that have continued to ravage different parts of the country, according to a report released by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday.
This is coming on the heels of a warning by the Federal Government that Nigerians should brace up for more floods in the country due to climate change, the release of water from the Lagbo Dam by Cameroonian authorities and the overflowing of rivers in different states
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, at a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, called on the affected state governments to put more effort into evacuating flood victims to higher grounds, disclosing that about 121,318 houses were partially damaged, 82,053 houses were damaged, 108,392 hectares of farmlands were partially damaged, and 332,327 hectares of farmlands were damaged
She also pledged that the Nigerian government will soon meet with its Cameroonian counterparts to find a lasting solution to the periodic release of its dam water.
“However, we must initiate a bilateral discussion with authorities in Cameroon in November on the periodic opening of the Lagdo dam. The delegation to Cameroon is to be led by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be requested to facilitate the meeting,” she said
According to her, weather forecasts have indicated that states like Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa were still at risk of experiencing floods until the end of November.
“So, we are calling on the respective state governments, LGAs and communities to prepare by evacuating people living on flood plains to high grounds, providing tents and relief materials, fresh water as well as medical supply for a possible outbreak of water-borne diseases,” Farouq warned
