Recent heavy rains and flooding across Mali, Nigeria, and Niger have displaced nearly 950,000 people and killed at least 460. In Nigeria, flooding has affected 29 of the country’s 36 states, with Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Imo, Rivers, and Bayelsa predicted to be severely impacted by further rains between September 4-8. Save the Children, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has warned of heightened risks, including disease outbreaks, hunger from crop destruction, and disrupted education for displaced children. Overflowing dams and rising water levels in the Niger and Benue rivers have exacerbated the crisis, particularly in the Maradi region.
At the end of August, over 290,000 people have been displaced in seven countries: Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, and Chad. The floods have destroyed or damaged more than 233,000 houses, 61 schools and 13 health facilities—almost quadrupling the number since July—severely disrupting livelihoods and access to essential services.
In the latter half of August, 465 people were reported killed and 1,747 injured, while an additional 354,000 hectares of agricultural land were affected, rendering 380,000 hectares unsuitable for agricultural and livestock production. Additionally, an estimated 32,200 heads of cattle have been swept away, bringing the total to 36,400 in 2024. Flooding has become an annual occurrence in this region, with risks exacerbated more by poor drainage and inadequate dam infrastructure than climate change.
Nigeria, like many West African countries, is grappling with severe flooding. The recurring devastation highlights Nigeria’s perennial failure in flood management. For instance, approximately 70% of Maiduguri is submerged, displacing thousands of residents. The Nigerian Correctional Service recaptured three inmates after a jailbreak, and 80% of the animals at the Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo died. Borno State has experienced its most devastating flood in 30 years, largely due to the Alau Dam’s inability to manage overflow.
The long-term risk includes a significant challenge to Nigeria’s food security, which is already strained by violence, insecurity, and crises related to storage and foreign exchange. Despite the warnings, there is little evidence of proactive measures to prevent or mitigate the damage. It has become a pattern: floods arrive, displace thousands, destroy homes and farmlands, and leave survivors at risk of disease and hunger. Then, the cycle repeats the following year.
Nigeria’s flood risk management suffers from deep-rooted systemic issues. These include weak early warning systems, poor urban planning, and the lack of a coordinated response across government agencies. Moreover, the country’s failure to properly maintain or construct sufficient flood management infrastructure, such as levees and drainage channels, exacerbates the problem. Existing flood-prone zones continue to be neglected, leaving millions exposed to yearly displacement and destruction.
For Nigeria to break this cycle, there must be a fundamental shift in policy and culture. Flood risk management must become a national priority, focusing on prevention rather than reaction. This includes developing reliable early warning systems, implementing robust urban planning regulations, and ensuring flood-prone areas are adequately equipped to handle excess water.