The federal government Sunday said as of October 16, a total of 2,504,095 people were affected by floods in different parts across the country.

Of the figure, 1,302, 589 people were displaced from their homes nationwide, while 2,407 were injured.

Similarly, the government said 603 people died in different parts of the country following the flood, with 121,318 houses partially damaged and 82,053 houses totally damaged, and thousands of hectares of farmlands swept off.

Speaking at a press conference Sunday in Abuja, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq said states like Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa were still at the risk of experiencing floods up till the end of November and urged them to activate evacuation plans.

“Despite all our efforts of averting the consequence of the 2022 flooding season, unfortunately we have recorded the loss of over 500 lives, partial or total damage of more than 90,000 houses, damage of more than 140, 000 hectares of farmland, so many roads and other critical infrastructures were also affected,” she said.

“You all will recall that on Tuesday, 15th February 2022, the Nigerian Metrological Agency released the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction informing us that the rains of 2022 will be heavier and longer.

Furthermore, on Thursday, 12th May 2022, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency released the Annual Flood Outlook.

“Immediately after these two releases, the National Emergency Management Agency was all out, armed with the scientific releases from the two Agencies, in the media and went to all States and FCT, warning of expected floods and advising on mitigating and preparedness actions they need to take to minimize losses and damages. I also briefed the National Economic Council on 22nd September, 2022, were I outlined preparedness strategies that all State Governments should take to mitigate the 2022 floods.

“I have laid this background so that you will appreciate the concern of this Ministry that despite all these efforts, we still appear to have become overwhelmed by the flood when it came,” the minister said.

“However, in response to the 2022 flood situation, I directed the Permanent Secretary to convene an emergency technical stakeholder meeting of all responsive Agencies to strategies immediate response to the situation. That meeting held on the 11th October 2022 and they all have formulated plans and strategies for response.

“While we mourn the unfortunate boat mishap in Anambra State and other locations, please we must note that we are not completely out of the wood because the Metrological Agencies are warning that States like Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa are still at the risk of experiencing floods up till end of November.

“So, we are calling on the respective State Governments, LGAs and Communities to prepare by evacuating people living on flood plains to high grounds, providing tents and relief materials, fresh water as well as medical supply for possible outbreak of water borne disease”, the minister said.

Diri  

In a related development,  Bayelsa state Governor Douye Diri has urged the the federal government to declare a national emergency on the rising flood that devastated lives and property in the state and others across the country.

Senator Diri made the call at an emergency security council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.

He said the essence of the meeting was to brainstorm with heads of various security agencies to assess the situation holistically and seek ways to mitigate the impact of the natural disaster.

A statement Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, said  the governor lamented the magnitude of this year’s flooding, which he noted had surpassed that of 2012.

“This year’s flooding has surpassed that of 2012, which is the highest we have witnessed so far. It has become a security emergency.”

According to Senator Diri, “Bayelsa is below sea level and when the flood comes, virtually everywhere is flooded. Even the Government House is being threatened,” he said.

Diri also said the flooding had severely  impacted communities, homes and road infrastructure, which had resulted in the state being cut off from neighboring states of Rivers and Delta states.

He said: “As we speak, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its strike. But as universities are opening, our own state university cannot open because the only road linking the university has been broken into three parts.

“The only road that links Opokuma and Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area and the only one also connecting Sagbama to Ekeremor that is still under construction has been broken. There is hunger and palpable tension in the state.”

The governor cautioned those peddling false information and protesting over a water channel project undertaken by the state government at the Okutukutu and Opolo axis of Yenagoa, the state capital, to desist forthwith.

“Let me also use this opportunity to clear the air on the issue of the Okutukutu and Opolo water channel project that was done last year by the state government to check flooding in that area.

“There is some ignorant narrative out there that it was done to protect the property of some people. The state government did not take that action for any particular interest. This is not the time to settle political scores but a time to be our brother’s keeper. We must all join hands to tackle this problem,” the governor said.

Addressing journalists at the end of the security meeting, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Ben Okolo, said the council resolved that all security agencies be co-opted into the state flood committee to ensure the relief materials get to the victims.

While assuring that security would be provided for displaced persons at their camps, the CP issued travel advisory to travellers from Bayelsa to Rivers and Delta states to wait till the flood recedes as the road to both states had been cut off.

He said council advised petroleum marketers not to take undue advantage of the situation to make arbitrary increase in the price of their products just as he warned criminal elements not to cause more pain for people that are already displaced from their homes.