By Ankeli Emmanuel, (BAUCHI)
The Federal Government of Nigeria has said no fewer than 612 people have been killed while approximately 2,776 others have been injured in various flood incidents across the country in 2022.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, in Abuja, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiyya Farouq, said the briefing is to keep Nigerians abreast of the response and interventions being handled by the Ministry and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the flood situation across the country.
The text of the “press briefing on flood emergency in Nigeria,” was sent to our Correspondent by a Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Nneka Anibeze, on Tuesday.
The Minister noted that it is important for regular briefings to update Nigerians to be maintained, hoping that other Ministries, Departments and Agencies such as Water Resources; Health; Works and Housing; Agriculture; and Environment will join her Ministry in the next segment with their own updates on operations to resolve this emergency the country is facing.
She called on governments at all levels, especially State and Local Governments, to share information with her Ministry and also play their role in the response, in line with the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.
According to her, thousands of houses and hectares of farmlands have been totally destroyed while no fewer than 1,427,370 have been rendered homeless.
Farouq said: “Situation Report as of 24th October 2022: There are 3,219,780 persons affected by floods in 2022. There are 1,427,370 persons that have been internally displaced.
“Approximately 2,776 persons have been injured and approximately 612 people have been killed. 181,600 Houses have been partially damaged and another while 123,807 houses have been totally damaged.
“Finally, 176,852 hectares of farmlands have been partially damaged and 392,399 hectares of farmlands have been totally damaged.”
She said that Federal Capital Territory and 20 states namely: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe, have so far received relief materials from the federal government to cushion the effects of the flood on Nigerians in these states.
According to her, distribution to other states affected by floods is ongoing pointing out that the materials being distributed are emergency food items and non-food items which include rice, maize, garri, vegetable oil, tin tomato, seasoning, and beans while the non-food items are materials used to assist with temporary shelters for displaced communities and they include roofing sheets, cement, nails, ceiling boards, blankets, nylon mats and zinc.
She commended local communities for their resilience saying that the Ministry received a report that in 144 LGAs, local communities worked together to provide the first response to their families and neighbors.
“The Search and Rescue Team, which is responsible for evacuating people and providing life-saving first aid and medical support and referral to hospitals has so far been able to reach 199 local government areas within 25 states.
“These operations are ongoing and I urge communities at risk to adhere to warnings and instructions issued by these teams as they work to protect and save lives,” she said.
The Minister expressed appreciation to President bMuhammadu Buhari, for his support and timely special intervention in addressing the flood intervention.
She said that while specialized teams are on ground, she has been notified that there are still some states and local governments that are inaccessible and hard to reach and “to address this, we have escalated this matter and are working with the Military Disaster Response Units and other stakeholders with specialized skills and equipment to ensure we use other means to reach hard-to-reach areas and people at risk.”
According to her, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency, will publish daily situation reports of the flood of each state on their Websites which would be available for the public.
Farouq concluded that: “I just want to reiterate to our fellow Nigerians affected, we see you and we hear you: We’re doing our best and call on more stakeholders to assist us.
“Next week, a high-level delegation will be visiting a few states to follow up on the operations and to identify any new challenges and gaps in the operations that need to be addressed. It would also help us see the reality on the ground and provide an opportunity to meet with victims and families that have been affected.”
