Nigeria has been experiencing yearly floods in varying degrees; how different were those of 2024?

By Uthman Abubakar

There were several facts about the 2024 floods in Nigeria. Four of the facts are two sets of twins. The fifth, a global unprecedented phenomenon, and the sixth, the prevailing economic situation of the country amidst which the floods occurred. Then many more other facts.

The first set of twin facts are: truism and platitude; the second, obstinacy and insensitivity.

The truism: Since the beginning of the existing natural order of happenings on Planet Earth, floods have been occurring whenever and wherever the causes of their occurrences are in place, just as it is said that the Sun rises from east and sets in the west whenever it is time for it to do so, or rivers flow downwards towards the lakes, seas or oceans according to gravitational forces.

Floods, therefore, occurred in Nigeria in 2024 because the causes of their occurrences were in place wherever and whenever they occurred across the country.

The platitude: Lamentations about floods devastating biodiversity and human life and livelihoods, according to their gravity whenever and wherever they occur, have been expressed since the beginning of the existing natural order of happenings on Planet Earth.

Lamentations about the various degrees of the disastrous consequences of the floods that occurred across Nigeria in 2024 have, therefore, always been expressed ever since.

The second set of twin facts.

Obstinacy: Nigerians, just as has always been the case with their fellow humans elsewhere across Planet Earth, tend to be frustratingly recalcitrant with regard to heeding warnings about impending floods and other natural disasters.

As it does every year, the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), has, armed with its predictions based on global climatic changes and weather patterns, warned about impending floods in locations prone to their occurrences, months before the occurrences.

In corroboration with NiMet, there were umpteen pleas to residents of such flood-prone locations by various concerned individuals and corporate organizations, suggesting various measures to avert the occurrences or, at least, mitigate their impacts on their lives and livelihoods.

Majority of the residents of such locations would, however, never take heed.

Nigerians, authorities have continued to lament, are, for example, habitual builders of structures on waterways, and blockers of waterways with filth. They will not take heed of umpteen warnings against these. Floods are, consequently, habitual undesirable visitors to their locations, and demolishers of all structures erected on waterways.

This obstinacy persisted in 2024, causing deluges across umpteen communities. And the consequences were very calamitous.

Insensitivity: Perhaps frustrated by the obstinacy of residents of flood-prone locations, and suffering from crass poverty of ideas for purposeful proactivity with regard to averting floods or mitigating their impacts on lives and livelihoods, government, in 2024, tended to be bewilderingly insensitive and, therefore, lackadaisical about enforcing decisions or, in the case of occurrences which could easily have been averted with little proactivity, such as the September 10, 2024 Maiduguri deluge, take the needed proactive measures against flood occurrences.

There was, as there has always been, the prevailing argument in favour of the victims floods.

The socioeconomic situations of majority of victims of floods could not have afforded them relocating out of the flood-prone locations, even before, let alone during, the floods.

Residents of most flood-prone communities seemingly so much prefer surviving there, since ancestors, than moving away from what may have been used to enduring as short-time disasters. They seem used to floods and their impacts over the ages. They, therefore, do not take of warnings about floods and their impacts.

There was, for example, nothing striking about the deluge swallowing tens of farming and fishing communities along the banks of the overflowing River Niger, especially in the vicinity of Murtala bridge and Lokoja, who have been experiencing flood and its impacts as integral part of their lives and livelihoods for eons. Floods do not chase them an inch away from the river banks.

Ditto, with residents of many flood-prone communities across both Nigeria and many other countries the world over. The flood, for numerous reasons, seem providing part of whatever economic prosperity communities in such flood-prone locations eke out of surviving there since eons past.

This substantially explains their recalcitrance with regard to heeding warnings. Such warnings seem as normal to them as whatever economic activities they conduct in those locations for eons.

In locations other than river banks, swamps and sea shores, so socioeconomically hopeless and hapless majority of the flood-devastated people were that they only pathetically looked as the deluge ravaged their lives and livelihoods. They then relocated to IDP camps, or houses of relatives or friends to sojourn for a while.

It seemed economically affordable and, therefore, easier for majority of victims of floods to frantically save whatever belonging they could pick, as they scampered or swam out to safe neighbourhoods, and then allowed the floods eat up everything. They then returned to rebuild habitats and livelihoods on the debris.

This hopelessness of the victims was compounded by the gross insufficiency of whatever frantic efforts or measly relief assistances government and philanthropic organizations and individuals hand out to them to ‘rebuild lives.’

The unprecedented phenomenon: 2024 was the warmest year in recorded history. This unprecedented climatic condition orchestrated several disasters, including the floods in Nigeria, and in all other climes where causes of their occurrences were in place across Planet Earth.

A section of experts argue that the 2022 floods were graver in terms of physical devastation, aside the Maiduguri metropolis avoidable occurrence of the September 10, 2024; but the 2024 occurrences were graver in terms of economic impact on the populace due to the severe hardships devastating majority of Nigerians, caused by the current government’s economic policies.

However incontrovertible was any of such arguments, and however was their acceptability, floods occurred across Nigeria in 2024, and they orchestrated such a humanitarian crisis that elicited grave concern on the parts of the affected population, government and corporate organizations and individuals.

In 2024, therefore, no fewer than ten states, including Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Delta, and Borno, experienced devastating floods. Most others experienced the occurrences in lesser degrees, with varying degrees of impacts.

Farmlands and entire communities were submerged in many states, displacing thousands and exacerbating food insecurity.

Experts estimate that Nigeria requires approximately six mega dams to contain the volume of water that usually cause floods, and about three percent of its GDP to mitigate the recurring flood disasters.

The need for the expansion of the existing dams and the construction of several bigger ones has existed for decades.

Apart from the normal huge floods inundating coastal communities due rising sea levels caused by global warming, many of the existing dams have always belched out massive quantities of water between the months of September and November almost on yearly basis, sweeping away hundreds of villages, destroying billions of Naira worth of farm crops, disrupting agricultural production and making a mockery of all food security projects and programmes of government.

This situation obtained in 2024.

Many of the dams in Nigeria have, over the decades, so much been underutilized, and, or, their structures unmanaged since their construction, that they overflow with the massive volume of water, which destroy their vital, but pathetically unmanaged structures, releasing the water to gravitate and wreak havoc on communities and farmlands.

In 1999, a typical example of such grossly underutilized dams was the Goronyo Dam in Sokoto State, which used to struggle to contain the over 900 million cubic litres of water in its main reservoir, secondary and thirdary dams.

It was not until the then Goronyo Local Government Chairman, Ya’u Isa Mai-Alewa, squealed over the more-than-containable volume of water crumbling the dam’s embankments, causing a massive flood that swept hundreds of farming communities in his LGA, along with the incalculable damage on their farms, that the then brand new President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly directed the immediate release of N1.1 billion for the clearing of 750ha of land for a pilot agricultural scheme attached to the dam to utilize the excess water causing the yearly floods there.

There was also the Northern Cameroonian Lagdo Dam factor. Between September and November every year, the Cameroonian authorities saved the structures of the overflowing dam, constructed at the uppermost edge of River Benue, from crumbling by releasing its excess water, which orchestrate massive floods in large sections of Nigeria’s Northeast down to the fringes of the Niger and Benue confluence.

This yearly practice occurred in 2024, and, as usual, there was, therefore, a massive flood devastating farms, lives and livelihoods, especially along the easternmost flanks of the Northeast region.

The September 10 Maiduguri flood, caused by the collapse of the walls of Alau Dam, was seen as, unfortunately, an irritating case of a government’s insensitivity and crass poverty of ideas on proactivity, or downright negligence.

Concerned sections of the public and the Alau Dam communities attributed the occurrence of the flood to the most-bewildering negligence of maintenance by government. Impeccable stakeholders in the humanitarian crisis caused by the flood squarely blamed the government for the failure to regularly maintain the dam’s vital structures. Since it was constructed 30 years ago, the walls of the dam had not been maintained, let alone some of their weakening sections, rebuilt.

The walls, on September 10, were crumbled by the force of the larger-than-containable volume of water. An uncontrollable seepage followed, with massive quantity of water deluging over half of the Maiduguri metropolis and sections of Jere and Konduga Local Government Areas, claiming the lives of over 150 persons, according to official figures, and displacing about two million persons.

For these reasons, massive floods, therefore, occurred in 2024, leaving disastrous aftermaths in the forms displacement of millions of the residents of hundreds of flood-prone communities, loss of billions of Naira worth of farm crops, orchestrating food insecurity and rising prices of food, amidst other hard-pinching hardships inflicted by the economic policies of the present government.

The federal government argued that it had disbursed enormous funds to state governments to control the rampaging floods and mitigate their impacts on their peoples.

However, despite receiving the billions of naira for disaster preparedness earlier in the year, the state governments were overwhelmed by the scale of the flooding, prompting President Bola Tinubu to establish a technical committee to assess the integrity of the nation’s dams and recommend long-term solutions.

Residents of the flood-affected communities in a few sampled states narrate tales of the disastrous aftermaths of the floods on their lives and livelihoods.

Farmers in Rivers State have lamented that the late flooding for 2024, led to their loss of farm produce and seedlings. They still blame government for abandoning them in their plight, and lack of post-flood measures to cushion the hunger that follows.

In Oyo State, the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), identified 32 locations in the state that experienced flooding between October 28, 2024, and November 8, 2024.

In order to give the government and humanitarian partners information on the main needs, vulnerabilities, and mobility intentions of the affected population, assessments were carried out in these areas in close coordination with local authorities and other humanitarian partners, using a network of key informants and field focal points.

The joint assessment team found 19,892 people in 4,914 flood-affected households across 10 local government areas (LGAs), 28 wards, and 32 places that were evaluated. These people included inhabitants affected by the floods but staying in their areas, as well as internally displaced people (IDPs) who were displaced by the floods. 3,795 displaced people, 11,481 returnees, and 4,616 non-displaced people made up the entire impacted population.

The impacted population’s top priorities were food and cash aid, followed by NFIs (non-food items), medical care, and water and sanitation services.

To achieve a full recovery for the impacted communities, addressing these priorities would necessitate a multi-pronged strategy that blends humanitarian help, such as direct relief assistance, with a longer-term development approach, such as infrastructure repair.

Akinyele, Ibadan South West, Iwajowa, Kajola, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Ogbomoso, Ogbomoso North, Oluyole, and Surulere are among the local governments impacted by the flood in 2024.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) the residents of Trademore Estate were among the millions of the residents of the territory who experienced devastating floods that plunged them into a cycle of hardship, destruction, and uncertainty.

The estate, which has long been susceptible to flooding, was again severely affected by heavy rainfall and thunderstorms this week, leading to widespread damage and prompting calls for urgent intervention.

Trademore Estate, located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is a typical case of flood-prone communities that will not relocate anywhere.

The estate has been suffering from frequent flooding due to its location on a floodplain. Over the years, the area has become notorious for its vulnerability to heavy rains, which overwhelm drainage systems and floods the homes of many residents.

The FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) confirmed that no lives were lost during the Trademore Estate flood in 2024. However, the damage was significant, with homes submerged and property destroyed.

FEMA confirmed that the properties affected by the flood were among the 116 structures previously slated for demolition in 2023 after Trademore was declared a disaster zone. The demolition had been halted due to a court injunction filed by the residents.

Several residents of Trademore Estate shared their harrowing experiences, detailing the immense hardships they faced during these floods.

Richard Ayodele, a resident of Trademore for over five years, narrated the panic and chaos that gripped the estate. “It’s always like this every rainy season,” Ayodele said. “We brace ourselves for the worst, but each time, it’s worse than the last.

“This time, the water level was so high that it reached the second floor of our building. We lost all our household items—fridges, furniture, even our clothes. It’s heartbreaking.”

Many residents, like Ayodele, were forced to improvise survival strategies, as Nkechi chizoba, another resident, explained how her family had to relocate temporarily to a relative’s house after the floodwaters entered their home.

“We didn’t know what to do. I had to move my children and elderly parents out quickly. We used plastic sheets and wood to block the floodwater from entering, but we couldn’t save anything. We’ve lost almost everything,” she recalled with trauma.

The Federal and FCT governments have recognized the urgency of addressing the flooding at Trademore Estate, but efforts have often been met with resistance from residents and logistical challenges.

The FCTA had planned to demolish several of the flood-prone structures within Trademore Estate in 2023. These homes, many of which are built on the water channels, were deemed hazardous.

However, the demolitions were halted following a court injunction filed by the Trademore Estate Residents’ Association. As a result, the affected structures remain in place, and the flood risk persists.

Despite these setbacks, the FCTA has continued to monitor and assess the situation. The FEMD activated emergency measures, including deploying local divers to vulnerable locations and placing emergency teams on high alert.

The acting Director-General of FEMD, Florence Wenegieme, emphasized the ongoing need for residents to relocate from flood-prone areas. “The FCTA is aware of the situation, but we need residents to comply with the planned removals for their own safety,” she said.

Wenegieme also highlighted that some of the properties affected by the recent floods had already been identified for removal but could not be demolished due to the court injunction. “It’s frustrating because the area remains a disaster zone, and people continue to live in danger,” she added.

The FEMD is also working closely with other agencies, such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the FCT Fire Service, to coordinate response efforts. In addition, the FCT Emergency Management Department has been collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment’s National Flood Early Warning System (FEWS), which issued warnings for heavy rainfall in neighboring states, further heightening concerns about the possibility of more flooding in the FCT.

The FCTA has pledged to continue taking action to mitigate the risk of future flooding. One of the primary concerns is the presence of a primary school with 500 pupils located in a flood-prone area of Trademore Estate.

Mrs. Wenegieme referred to this school as a “disaster waiting to happen” and urged the authorities to prioritize the relocation of such institutions from flood zones.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the FCTA has called for the provision of adequate infrastructure in flood-prone areas, including better drainage systems and flood barriers, to prevent a recurrence of the devastation. However, with legal battles delaying demolition plans and the slow pace of infrastructure improvements, residents remain uncertain about the future.

Some residents have taken steps to mitigate the effects of flooding on their own, but the scale of the problem has outpaced their individual efforts. Nkechi Uzo, one of the residents, appealed to the government for more robust intervention. “We can’t keep doing this every year. We need a permanent solution, not just temporary fixes,” she said.

As the situation in Trademore Estate remains precarious, the focus is now on ensuring that future floods do not result in further loss of life and property.

The federal and FCT authorities are facing mounting pressure to resolve the flooding crisis and provide permanent solutions for the residents of Trademore Estate.

The residents of Trademore Estate continue to endure the harsh realities of flood-prone living, hoping that the government’s promises of intervention will be translated into meaningful action.

Governments of the affected states made frantic efforts to relieve victims of the impact of the floods.

In Borno State, for example, the relief committee set up by the state government disbursed N18. 08 101,330 affected households.

The Chairman of the committee, Engr Baba Bukar Gujibawu, revealed that ₦18.08 billion was distributed in cash to the displaced households alongside food and non-food items.

Contributions totalling ₦4.3 billion from UNHCR, WFP, FAO, UNDP and other partners were instrumental in addressing immediate needs.

Gujibawu emphasised that over one million people were affected by the recent flood, with 101,330 households displaced. The disaster also resulted in the destruction of public infrastructure and farmlands and the loss of human lives.

He said the committee received a total of ₦28.2 billion through a basket fund supported by the Federal and State Governments, corporate organisations and individuals.

This includes a significant ₦10 billion contribution from Borno State Government. In addition, the committee received donations of drugs, medical supplies, food and other essential items valued at billions of naira.

“The committee also allocated ₦987 million to assist 7,716 traders in affected markets, ₦313 million to 814 worship centres, ₦213 million to 267 private schools, ₦89.4 million to 1,788 youths who contributed during the flood, and ₦12.5 million to 22 private clinics”, Gujbawu stated.

The committee recommended that the remaining ₦4.45 billion be used to rehabilitate earth roads in flood-hit areas, including the Gongulong and Old Maiduguri roads.

Governor Babagana Zulum had directed the immediate activation of a permanent disaster response structure at the state emergency management agency (SEMA).
He also directed the Ministry of Works to immediately reconstruct the road networks destroyed by flood in different communities.

Zulum commended the federal government for its huge support to victims of Maiduguri flood disaster.

These were a couple of examples of efforts made by the governments of the 2024 flood-impacted states to mitigate the impact of the flood on their peoples.

Virtually every state experienced some levels of flood in 2024. Every of the affected states packaged its own relief measures and reconstruction efforts to mitigate the flood impact, according to the degree of the flood it experienced, amidst the persistence of obstinacy on the part of citizens, and insensitivity and insufficient proactivity on the part of government.

With contributions from Obiabin Onukwugha, Farida Salifu, Grace Ademulegun & Abbas Nazil.