Flood Disaster: States Intensify Action as 232 Die, 121,000 Displaced

BY JAMES AKINOLA

Several states, including Kaduna, Nasarawa, Bauchi and Jigawa, have stepped up campaigns to avert worsening flood crises, Frontline Reporters has gathered.

According to figures obtained by Frontline Reporters from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday, no fewer than 232 persons have lost their lives, while 121,224 others have been displaced following floods that ravaged parts of the country as of September 20.

The 2025 flood dashboard also shows that at least 339,658 people recorded various levels of losses, with 681 sustaining injuries.

Deaths were reported in seven states, with Niger State accounting for the highest toll of 163, followed by Adamawa with 59, Taraba five, Yobe two, and one each in Borno, Gombe, and Jigawa, bringing the nationwide fatalities to 232. The disaster also left 115 persons missing, 42,301 houses damaged, and about 48,447 hectares of farmlands destroyed.

Most Impacted States

Lagos tops the list of affected states with 57,951 people impacted, 3,680 displaced, and 3,244 houses damaged. In Adamawa, 57,890 residents were affected, 23,077 displaced, 438 injured, 59 killed, and over 9,000 farmlands destroyed. Akwa Ibom recorded 46,233 affected, 40,140 displaced, and more than 17,000 homes and farmlands damaged.

Other severely hit states include:

Imo – 29,242 affected, 15,607 displaced, 81 injured.
Taraba – 26,722 affected, 3,080 displaced, 88 injured, five killed.
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, Kaduna, Niger, Bayelsa, Cross River, Yobe, Sokoto, Gombe, Ondo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Anambra, Nasarawa, Kano, and the FCT were also affected, with varying levels of casualties, displacement, and destruction.

Humanitarian Challenges

NEMA identified food, shelter, healthcare, water, sanitation, and livelihood support as the most urgent needs of victims.

It also highlighted resource shortages (68%) as the biggest obstacle to effective response. Other challenges include inaccessible flooded communities (17%), security risks (6%), and community resistance (7%), which have slowed aid delivery.

State-Level Responses

Gombe: The State Emergency Management Agency reported that 986 households had been displaced and 15 lives lost. Tragic incidents included a canoe accident in Funakaye LGA, which claimed five lives.
Sokoto: Torrential downpours ravaged 61 communities in Rabah LGA, destroying 2,200 houses and displacing over 5,300 households.
Kano: Strong windstorms accompanying rains destroyed many houses, with fatalities recorded. A comprehensive damage assessment is still underway.
Bauchi: The government spent about N500 million on interventions to help victims rebuild homes.
Kaduna: A two-day downpour displaced nearly 1,000 residents and destroyed 270 homes. Governor Uba Sani reassured residents of ongoing disaster preparedness and flood mitigation efforts.
Nasarawa: Officials intensified sensitisation campaigns across 13 LGAs, urging residents in flood-prone areas to relocate.
Jigawa: Authorities credited proactive measures, including N4.2bn investments in dredging and embankments, for preventing major displacement.
Niger: Officials warned residents not to block drainage systems and urged relocations from riverine communities during heavy rains.