The 10th of September 2024 was black Tuesday for residents of Maiduguri Municipal Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area as flash floods swept through the area killing about 37 persons while rendering hundreds of thousands of persons in the world’s poverty capital homeless.
Abdullahi, a young farmer, tearfully shared how the floods have stripped him of his only source of income, leaving him barely able to feed himself. Zara, a mother of four and a petty trader, sorrowfully recounted how the flood destroyed her business, forcing her to live from hand to mouth and unable to provide for her family.
Douglas, a businessman who earned a good living from selling electronics before the floods, expressed his sorrow over the destruction of his shop, which left him unable to afford rebuilding his business.
About 40 percent of MMC residents experienced extreme flooding in 2024 according to reports from the state’s Ministry of Environment and Nigeria’s Context Analysis Team (NCAT).
Most families lost their source of livelihood as crops that were nearly ready for harvest were swept away, leaving farmers with no or limited income while many households were unable to meet daily needs.
About 14,454.5 hectares of land were submerged and only about 70% of 9,768 affected farmers have been able to access their farmland post-flooding according to reports.
Floods and Food Security
Mathias Bwala, a field officer at NESREA, Borno State, highlighted that the flood in Maiduguri severely impacted the city’s two key markets, Monday Market and Gamboru grain market, destroying large quantities of grains and beans.
These markets are crucial for the food supply in Maiduguri and Borno state, and their disruption has led to food shortages, skyrocketing prices, and increased food insecurity. Immediate intervention is needed to restore market operations and support affected communities.
Similarly, Bwala stated that stored seeds, seedlings, and agricultural chemicals used in food production were heavily damaged. Cereal crops like sorghum, rice, maize, and millet, grown near the stream and in surrounding farming areas, were completely ruined. These farming communities contribute up to 80% of the city’s food production.
Victims lamented that this is the worst flood ever experienced in the history of the state. Further, Borno State food security index is weak according to recent reports by Nigeria Food Security Project in 2024.
Socio-economic impacts of floods
The majority of flood victims were farmers, civil servants, artisans, and small business owners who previously earned enough to support their families. About 90 percent of those interviewed confessed they now rely on government aid and humanitarian assistance for survival according to survey reports by NESREA.
About 98 percent of the flood victims were unable to restart their businesses or farm activities, 40 percent still live in IDP camps while 50 percent were able to go back to their homes.
About 40 percent of the victims also admitted to losing at least one family member to the floods while the majority of them agreed that there was no support for rebuilding their private businesses or properties
Read also: Maiduguri floods: compassion, nationhood and national security
Health impacts of floods
Beside damage of roads, civil structures, loss of farmlands and loss of family members, about 50 percent of the flood victims had severe health related illnesses ranging from malaria, typhoid fever, cholera and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to survey reports by NESREA.
All the victims admitted that the health facilities in their area were also destroyed leaving them with no choice but to rely on the government and other NGOs to cater for their health needs.
Government interventions for flood victims
Bwala also shared that around 80% of flood victims received support from the state government, with others relying on NGOs or family assistance.
He mentioned that some victims are being given monthly stipends, while the government distributes welfare palliatives, including cash and goods.
Bwala also emphasized that, due to the scale of the disaster, the state government is collaborating with both local and international NGOs to provide further support to the victims.
Economic impacts of floods in Maiduguri and Nigeria at large
Speaking on the economic impact of the floods, Bwala explained that the influx of disaster victims into Borno State has caused a sharp rise in the prices of goods and services.
He also expressed concern for local communities offering voluntary shelter and services, noting that many have been overwhelmed, bearing burdens beyond their capacity.
Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives recently raised alarm over the devastating economic toll of recurring floods across Nigeria.
He stressed that these floods not only displace countless victims or threaten their security but also strip them of their livelihoods, pushing many into deeper poverty.
Over 9 million people were affected by floods across 31 out of 36 states of Nigeria in 2024 according to the international organization for migration(IOM).
In 2024, floods impacted numerous states across Nigeria, including Lagos, Edo, Kano, Borno, Zamfara, Gombe, Adamawa, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Niger, Ondo, Rivers, Taraba, and the FCT. The economic repercussions were severe, with devastating effects on both the environment and livelihoods.
By October 2024, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that over 1.5 million hectares of arable land and 4.45 million hectares of total land were flooded, resulting in $1 billion USD in losses and a production decline of 1.1 million tonnes in maize, rice, and sorghum enough to meet the yearly kilocalorie needs of 13 million Nigerians.
Read also: Repair collapsed Alau Dam or Maiduguri flood again- Zulum begs FG
Global cases of flood
In March 2024, Northern and Western Kazakhstan were severely impacted by floods, as dams breached and reservoirs overflowed, resulting in widespread destruction. Over 119,000 people, including 44,000 children, were displaced by the disaster.
In 2024, floods affected around 11 million people across Africa, resulting in 4 million displacements, 2,500 fatalities, widespread crop damage, and the loss of millions of livestock, according to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
Reports confirm that regions including Central Asia, East Africa, West Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central Europe also faced devastating floods in 2024 and continue to recover from their effects.
Reports show that human activities such as rapid growth and dam failures contributed to increased flood cases globally , as inadequate water management and excessive construction reduce the land’s ability to absorb water, while the collapse of protective structures can unleash significant amounts of water.
The way forward for Nigeria
As the new year begins, it is crucial for stakeholders to proactively plan for natural disasters to minimize further damage and mitigate the effects of what has already occurred, says Bwala.
In his statement, Kalu urged stakeholders to leverage technology and data predictions from NIMET, ensuring their integration into the operations of humanitarian agencies. This, he stressed, would enable better preparedness and a more efficient, swift response to flood emergencies.
Nigeria can also learn from other countries such as Europe and the America where coastal flooding has been managed through defenses like sea walls, beach nourishment, and barrier islands.
Additionally, dikes are an effective flood protection method, reducing flood risks more effectively than other approaches.
Ecosystem-based solutions, such as constructed wetlands, retention areas, and restoring vegetation to mitigate flood impacts, are receiving growing attention and funding, forming a key part of UNEP’s climate efforts,” says Bernhardt, UNEP freshwater ecosystems expert.
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