A tragic situation has unfolded in Niger State, where floods have claimed 11 lives, ravaged communities, and caused extensive damage across 19 of the state’s 25 local government areas.
The floods have destroyed 118,692 farmlands, leaving many residents uncertain about their future as their primary sources of livelihood have been severely affected.
In addition to the loss of farmlands, 246 schools have been impacted, disrupting education in 529 communities. The floods have also affected 34 communities, with 41,192 people now in urgent need of relief and assistance.
Among the worst-hit local government areas are Mokwa, Katcha, Lavun, Lapai, Agaie, Shiroro, Munya, Gbako, Kontagora, Bosso, Edati, Agwara, Bida, Magama, Mashegu, Borgu, Gurara, Suleja, and Rijau.
The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the severity of the disaster in a statement, noting that over 6,865 households have been affected.
Critical infrastructure has also been damaged, with 18 bridges and 80 culverts destroyed, exacerbating transportation challenges and hindering relief efforts.
This disaster comes despite earlier warnings from the federal government. On April 17, authorities had warned that 148 local government areas across 31 states, including Niger, were at high risk of severe flooding between April and November.