The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has revealed that 5,264,097 Nigerians were affected by severe flooding in 2024, with over 1,237 lives lost and extensive destruction across 35 states.
The agency’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, made the disclosure during a strategic meeting with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Abuja, focused on enhancing emergency flood response and capacity building.
According to NEMA’s data, the floods displaced 1.2 million people, destroyed 116,172 houses, and ravaged 1,439,296 hectares of farmland across 401 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
NEMA has identified 12 states and 43 LGAs as high-risk zones for flooding in 2025, while 13 other states are categorized as low-risk.
The 2024 flooding season—one of Nigeria’s worst in recent memory was attributed to a mix of climate change, poor urban planning, and rapid population growth in flood-prone regions.
Speaking on behalf of the DG, NEMA’s Assistant Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Mr. Simon Katu, described the floods as “widespread and devastating,” causing significant damage to critical infrastructure including roads, bridges, and healthcare facilities.
On the recent Mokwa flooding in Niger State, Mrs. Umar confirmed that more than 3,000 residents were affected, with over 100 fatalities, 1,005 displaced, and many others still missing or injured. The Mokwa disaster has become a tragic symbol of Nigeria’s escalating flood crisis.
As part of proactive measures, NEMA has launched a national flood preparedness and response campaign, having already reached all 36 states and the FCT to engage vulnerable communities. Mrs. Umar also announced simulation exercises in Anambra and Kano States to test emergency preparedness protocols.
JICA’s representative, Mr. Keisuke Matsushita, expressed Japan’s commitment to supporting Nigeria with technical expertise and disaster management training, pending approval by the Japanese government.
“We propose a long-term partnership to help Nigeria respond swiftly to flood disasters. We are open to further discussions on implementation logistics,” Matsushita said.
To move the initiative forward, Mrs. Umar inaugurated a five-member technical committee chaired by Mr. Idris Abubakar Mohammed, Director of Disaster Risk Reduction at NEMA. The committee will work with JICA to draft a comprehensive framework for training and support.
The DG stressed the need for the committee to begin work immediately, emphasizing urgency in tackling the growing flood risks Nigeria faces.
“As disasters increase in intensity and frequency, so must our response capacity. This partnership is critical to saving lives,” she added.
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