For another year, flooding has created disaster across Nigeria, displacing people by the thousands and claiming hundreds of lives in the region. Torrential rains, in accordance to the earlier predictions by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s Annual Flood Outlook, have triggered devastating floods in over 30 states so far. Starting in mid-September, reports from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) indicated that over 259 people have lost their lives, while more than 600,000 have been displaced from their homes. Entire communities are now submerged underwater, and acres of farmlands have been destroyed.
The flooding this year has been particularly devastating as it has left a lasting impact on 29 states and 172 local government areas. Nearly 1.05 million people have been directly affected in total, with an estimated 625,000 displaced, and according to Zubaida Umar, Director-General of NEMA, major cities like Maiduguri in Borno State have seen the evacuation of residents leaving them with an immediate need for food, shelter and medical assistance. The damage was further exacerbated by the recent breach of the Alau Dam which alone displaced over 400,000 people, and left much of the city underwater. Of this amount, NEMA has reported that a quarter have been forced to live in overcrowded informal camps.
In response to the flooding crisis, the Nigerian government has launched several emergency operations to alleviate the suffering of flood victims. Relief efforts have been coordinated by NEMA, which has been working closely with local authorities and international partners. And emergency shelters have been built up, to equip community members with necessary provisions like food, water, mosquito nets, blankets, and tarpaulins. The government has also issued numerous warnings to residents in high-risk flood zones and flood planes, advising evacuations where possible.
While there has been a robust response to the situation, the scale of the disaster has overwhelmed resources. NEMA’s relief efforts have been strained, and the vast majority of displaced individuals outnumbers available resources. Although International organizations like the UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP) have stepped in to support, particularly in northeastern Nigeria, where the situation is dire. In Maiduguri, the WFP has taken action by setting up food and resource kitchens to ensure displaced families are provided with basic meals. However, these interventions remain strained due to funding limitations; as of August, UNHCR’s operations in Nigeria were only 28% funded.
As floodwaters continue to rise, the calls for long-term solutions are becoming a more pressing concern. The Nigerian government, international organizations, and experts are putting in the effort to advocate for investments into disaster preparedness, waste management and climate resilience. This would include facilitating the improvement of early warning systems, investing into the upkeep of high-risk infrastructure like dams, and creating long-term sustainable flood management systems. There is also a push for greater coordination across West African countries, as the region has been seeing increasingly severe weather events linked to climate change.
Despite these plans, the most pressing focus remains on providing relief to the displaced and vulnerable populations, with NEMA warning that more areas could be affected as the rainy season persists. Communities returning to flood-ravaged homes will require substantial support to rebuild their liveloihoods, while local governments will require additional resources to mitigate the potential long-term impacts of the floods sustainably. The situation is critical, and the need for fast, cohesive action is evident if Nigeria is to avoid even greater losses.
Nigeria’s 2024 floods have marked the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather and showcased the critical need for disaster preparedness. While the government and humanitarian agencies have mobilized to assist those affected, the extent of the crisis requires both immediate relief and long-term strategic planning. With hundreds of thousands of Nigerians displaced and critical infrastructure severely damaged, the coming months will be crucial in determining the nation’s ability to recover and adapt to future climate challenges.
Ojonoka Braimah
is an Intern and Researcher with
National Emergency Management Agency
