Over 208,000 people across 28 of Nigeria's 36 states have been displaced by floods this year, according to Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, Managing Director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC). Speaking at a press briefing on the 2024 flood situation at the commission's headquarters in Minna, Yelwa revealed that approximately 200 lives have been lost, as reported by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Yelwa attributed the widespread devastation to poor infrastructure, failure to adhere to environmental guidelines, and ineffective dam management. He noted that torrential rainfall has exacerbated the situation, particularly in N-HYPPADEC member states, which are heavily involved in electricity generation.
The managing director highlighted the increasing frequency and severity of floods, which have caused significant disruptions to lives, property, and economic activities. He emphasized the need for urgent attention from relevant stakeholders, warning that the situation could worsen in the coming days.
Preliminary reports from N-HYPPADEC offices indicate that 634 communities in Benue State have been affected, with nearly 30,000 farmlands washed away. In Kebbi State, 6,959 households and 10,000 farmlands have been impacted, with one life lost. Similar situations have been reported in Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Kaduna states, posing a serious threat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's food security and wealth creation agenda.
In Niger State, seven lives were lost in incidents in Magama and Mashegu local government areas along the Mokwa-New Bussa federal highway. Three major bridges, including the Wukari bridge in Taraba State and the Manyara Bridge at Sabon-Pegi Kwatachi on the New Bussa Federal Highway, have been affected. Numerous other critical infrastructures, such as culverts, flood drains, schools, and health centers, have also been damaged.
Yelwa outlined the commission's efforts to mitigate the impact of flooding, including the execution of critical flood and erosion control projects. Additionally, about 500 flood victim resettlement housing schemes are under construction in Niger, Kogi, Kwara, and Kebbi states. The commission has also engaged the media to sensitize riverine communities on flood dangers and safety measures.