By Faridat Salifu
The National Economic Council (NEC) has officially declared Nigeria’s recent flooding a national emergency, revealing severe human and infrastructural impacts across 34 states.
Flooding has claimed 321 lives, displaced nearly 741,000 people, and caused extensive property and agricultural losses, heightening calls for swift federal intervention.
Following the NEC meeting in Abuja on Thursday, October 31, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo detailed the devastation and outlined NEC’s response strategy.
“The Council recognizes the immense scale of this disaster, with over a million people affected, and entire communities, livelihoods, and essential infrastructure left in ruins,” Soludo said.
According to NEC, the recent flooding has affected 217 local government areas, leaving 2,854 people injured. Preliminary assessments also indicate that approximately 281,000 homes have been destroyed or significantly damaged, alongside 258,000 hectares of cultivated farmlands wiped out.
These numbers underscore the far-reaching effects of the floods, with critical infrastructure, farmlands, and residential areas submerged or devastated by the overflow.
Soludo emphasized that while state and local emergency teams are providing relief efforts, the scale of destruction demands a robust national response. “Flooding has emerged as an annual crisis affecting millions across Nigeria, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities.
“We are now facing a situation where proactive measures are no longer optional but urgently required,” he noted.
In a key response to the crisis, NEC has mandated the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to conduct an immediate and thorough integrity audit of Nigeria’s waterways and dam infrastructure.
This audit aims to assess vulnerabilities within the water management system and identify necessary upgrades to prevent future catastrophes.
The Water Resources Ministry, which has previously identified 148 high-risk flood zones in 31 states, reported that climate-driven extremes are intensifying the flood risk across the states.
“The Council has directed an expansive dredging program to ensure waterways can adequately handle high water volumes, aiming to mitigate overflow events in the most vulnerable regions,” Soludo announced.
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The dredging initiative would involve clearing obstructions, widening river channels and fortifying embankments, particularly in the Niger Delta and other flood-prone areas where waterways have become clogged over time.
By improving water flow, NEC hopes to reduce the severity and frequency of flooding events across affected regions.
With the flooding crisis laying bare the need for robust climate adaptation infrastructure, NEC has called on the Green Climate Fund to establish a dedicated infrastructure resilience fund.
This fund is to focus on climate-proofing critical facilities, enhancing emergency response systems, and supporting flood recovery efforts across Nigeria, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions that are disproportionately impacted by severe flooding.
“There is a need for targeted funding that goes beyond short-term relief efforts and addresses the root causes of these disasters,” Governor Soludo said, explaining, “A resilient infrastructure fund would allow us to undertake long-term projects, such as dam reinforcement, river widening, and urban drainage systems, ensuring communities are better protected in the years to come.”
NEC also urged governors of affected states to submit their flood management assessments and detailed reports, as a means of coordinating state and federal disaster response plans.
This information is to facilitate the creation of a comprehensive national flood management strategy, which can guide future infrastructure investments and community preparedness initiatives.
Beyond domestic interventions, according to NEC, the flood crisis has ignited a broader discussion on Nigeria’s climate vulnerability and the need for international support.
Experts have noted that Nigeria’s topography and seasonal rain patterns make it particularly susceptible to both river and flash floods, a situation exacerbated by climate change.
As Nigeria confronts this recurring threat, NEC’s declaration of a national emergency underscores the urgency of securing both national and international resources.
Environmental experts have pointed to the necessity of establishing early warning systems, enhancing river management infrastructure, and ensuring community engagement in flood preparedness.
“This situation is emblematic of a larger, global crisis a need for both climate adaptation and mitigation funding for countries like Nigeria that bear the brunt of environmental extremes,” noted Dr. Joseph Utsev, Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, who provided NEC with a report on the federal government’s emergency response efforts during the session.
The Council’s directives mark a significant step forward, signaling a commitment to preventing future disasters of this magnitude through structural, financial, and community-focused initiatives.
As Nigeria continues to battle one of its most severe flood seasons, NEC’s call for a strategic overhaul of water management underscores a critical shift toward proactive disaster mitigation, prioritizing resilience and sustainability as foundations for the future.
