Sodiq Rabiu
A devastating flood in Kebbi State, North-West Nigeria, has claimed the lives of 29 people and destroyed 329,000 houses, leaving thousands of residents displaced, local news outlets reported.
The flood, which has ravaged the state, also submerged 858,000 hectares of farmland, wiping out key crops such as rice, millet, sorghum, and beans, and sparking fears of an impending food crisis.
At a press briefing on Friday, Kebbi State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Birnin Kebbi, expressed the government’s struggle to manage the aftermath, stating that the scope of the disaster has overwhelmed local resources.
“Governor Nasir’s administration has done its best to assist those affected, but the magnitude of the flood demands more help,” Yakubu said.
He stated that the state government has compiled a report on the flood’s impact, which will be submitted to federal agencies in a bid to secure more aid.
The official added that the loss of farmland may lead to food shortages in the region, as the livelihoods of thousands of farmers have been destroyed.
Yakubu said: “Many of them have lost their means of livelihood, the disaster has forced farmers into penury, shortage of food looms on the horizon, and our food security target is in jeopardy unless urgent measures are put in place to remedy the situation.
“The Kebbi Government will provide improved seeds and other agricultural input to farmers to return to cultivation, but more is needed.
“Preliminary statistics show that seven persons died in Ngaski, eight in Maiyama, five in Kalgo, seven in Jega, and two in Birnin Kebbi, as a result of the flooding.”
When asked if Kebbi State Government has accessed a ₦3 billion grant for flood mitigation from the federal government, the commissioner said that he was not aware if the money has entered the coffers of the northwestern state.
“I am also surprised that members from Kebbi State in the National Assembly, including Senators, are yet to visit the areas ravaged by flooding to offer the necessary assistance and sympathy,” Yakubu added.
In response to the crisis, the government warned that it may resort to forcibly evacuating residents in flood-prone areas who refuse to relocate to safer regions.