The devastating floods that have ravaged parts of Nigeria have destroyed crops that could have fed 8.5 million people for six months, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
This dire situation has exacerbated the already deteriorating food security situation in the country, with almost half of Nigeria’s 200 million people living in extreme poverty.
The FAO report reads, “Floods that have submerged parts of Nigeria at the onset of the harvest season have destroyed crops that would have fed 8.5 million people for six months.
It added, “The heavy rains are exacerbating the already deteriorating food security situation in the country.
“Quantifying the exact loss has not yet been possible due to the gravity of the disaster.”
The FAO estimates that approximately 856,000 tons of crops have been lost, based on an average yield of 1.5 tons of food grown per hectare on the waterlogged land. This is a catastrophic blow to Nigeria’s food production, particularly in the 10 states most affected by the floods, including Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Zamfara, Yobe, Sokoto, and Kebbi.
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Dr. Haruna Mairiga, Secretary of the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed that over 2,744 hectares of farmlands have been washed away by the flood in Jigawa State alone.
The floods have also ravaged 12 local government areas, resulting in the death of 21 persons and the destruction of farmlands and houses. Farmers in the state have lost over N1 billion of farm produce and crops to the flood.
“No fewer than 2,744 hectares of farmlands have been washed away by the flood across the 12 affected LGAs. From August 1 to 13, 2024, the state witnessed intermittent downpours leading to several incidences of flood and the death of 21 persons as well as the destruction of farmlands and houses,” Mairiga said.
Economic Implications
The flood’s impact on Nigeria’s economy is multifaceted. Food prices are already rising at an annual rate of 37.5%, and the destruction of crops will only worsen this trend. The loss of livestock and damage to markets and storage units will also have a ripple effect on the entire food value chain.
Furthermore, the floods have disrupted vital supply chains and services, including schools, healthcare facilities, and markets. The telecommunications and electricity networks have also been compromised in some locations, exacerbating the economic hardship.
Humanitarian Crisis
The floods have left hundreds of thousands of people in urgent need of assistance. The UN reports that over 414,000 people have been affected, 58 people injured, and at least 37 people killed. The situation is particularly dire in Borno State, where 3 million children are without school indefinitely, increasing the likelihood of child marriage and other protection risks.
Call to Action
As the situation continues to deteriorate, humanitarian organizations are calling for urgent action. “This is a crisis upon a crisis – in an area where the creeping impacts of climate change were already putting food and clean water out of reach and malnutrition and disease was already rife among children,” said Duncan Harvey, Country Director of Save the Children in Nigeria.
The international community must rally to support Nigeria in this time of need. The FAO’s warning that the floods will worsen the food crisis in a region where 55 million people are already facing hunger due to insecurity and harsh weather conditions must be heeded.
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