Flood Disaster: States Step Up Measures as 232 Die, 121,000 Displaced
Several states, including Kaduna, Nasarawa, Bauchi, and Jigawa, have intensified campaigns to mitigate the impact of flooding, The PUNCH reports.
Figures released by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday show that, as of September 20, at least 232 people have died and 121,224 displaced by floods across the country.
The 2025 flood dashboard further revealed that 339,658 people suffered various losses, while 681 sustained injuries. Deaths were reported in seven states, with Niger recording the highest toll at 163 deaths, followed by Adamawa (59), Taraba (5), Yobe (2), and Borno, Gombe, and Jigawa (1 each). In addition, 115 people remain missing nationwide.
The floods damaged 42,301 houses and destroyed 48,447 hectares of farmlands.
Worst-Hit States
- Lagos: 57,951 affected, 3,680 displaced, 3,244 houses damaged.
- Adamawa: 57,890 affected, 23,077 displaced, 438 injured, 59 dead, 9,000+ farmlands lost.
- Akwa Ibom: 46,233 affected, 40,140 displaced, 17,000+ homes and farmlands destroyed.
- Imo: 29,242 affected, 15,607 displaced, 81 injured, extensive property losses.
- Taraba: 26,722 affected, 3,080 displaced, 88 injured, 5 dead.
- Rivers: 22,345 affected, 9,645 displaced.
- Delta: 14,057 affected, 3,325 displaced.
- Abia: 11,907 affected, 4,896 displaced, 21 injured.
- Edo: 10,608 affected, 2,439 displaced.
- Borno: 8,164 affected, 2,436 displaced, 1 dead.
- Kaduna: 7,334 affected, 662 displaced.
- Niger: 6,041 affected, 1,860 displaced, 11 injured, 163 dead.
Other affected states include Bayelsa, Cross River, Yobe, Sokoto, Gombe, Ondo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Anambra, Kano, and the FCT.
Relief Needs and Challenges
NEMA highlighted food, shelter, health services, water/sanitation, and livelihood support as urgent needs. Response efforts have faced obstacles, including resource shortages (68%), inaccessibility of communities (17%), security risks (6%), and community resistance (7%).
State-Level Reports
- Gombe: 986 households displaced, 15 deaths; canoe mishap claimed 5 lives.
- Sokoto: Floods destroyed 2,200 houses in 61 communities, displacing over 5,300 households.
- Kano: Strong winds accompanying rains destroyed homes; assessments ongoing.
- Bauchi: Government spent ₦500m on interventions.
- Kaduna: Recent downpour displaced 970 residents, destroyed 270 homes; flood camp in Tudun Wada closed after improvements.
- Nasarawa: SEMA intensified relocation campaigns in flood-prone LGAs.
- Jigawa: Proactive measures, including N4.2bn investment in dredging and embankments, limited displacement.
Meanwhile, Zamfara reported no major flooding despite heavy rains.
