Widespread flooding across Nigeria has caused severe damage to the country’s agricultural sector, displacing communities and deepening the national food crisis.
More than 30 states have been affected, with at least 180,000 hectares of cultivated farmland destroyed, according to a recent report by SBM Intelligence.
Since July 2024, flooding has impacted 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, affecting over 1.2 million people.
The floods have submerged homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure, with the most severe damage reported in regions already grappling with the effects of climate change and insecurity.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has raised concerns over the growing threat to areas in the northeast and west of the country, including Borno, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Nigeria’s food security situation has continued to deteriorate, with reports indicating that by the first quarter of 2024, around 100 million people were unable to consistently access sufficient food.
The extensive damage to farmlands and the breakdown of essential agricultural systems have further reduced food availability, particularly among already vulnerable communities.
As of March 2024, approximately 18.6 million individuals were experiencing severe hunger, with many resorting to extreme measures to meet their basic nutritional needs.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) expressed concern over the rising number of people affected by the disaster.
By early September, more than 2.5 million people had been impacted, with many displaced across the affected states.
The floods have had a particularly devastating impact on the Middle Belt region, commonly referred to as Nigeria’s “food basket.” Crops have been destroyed on a large scale, contributing to the ongoing food price inflation.
In January 2024, food inflation reached 35.41 percent, driven largely by the collapse of agricultural productivity. In Benue State, many farmers reported total losses, and the growing number of displaced persons has placed additional pressure on food supplies.
In northeastern Nigeria, the states of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe have experienced extensive damage.
Nearly 880,000 people have been affected in these states, with close to 300,000 hectares of farmland lost. Borno State has faced additional challenges following the collapse of the Alau Dam on 10 September in Konduga Local Government Area.
The resulting floods impacted Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Area, displacing over 239,000 people.
Approximately half of Maiduguri was affected. The floods disrupted access to schools, hospitals, markets, and especially farmlands, while also damaging infrastructure such as bridges.
Authorities have established eight temporary settlement centers for displaced persons. Health concerns have also emerged due to the risk of disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria, typhoid, and other zoonotic diseases.
The long-term implications are severe. By the first quarter of 2024, the number of food-insecure Nigerians had reached 100 million. The recent floods have only exacerbated this situation. The Niger flood, which occurred on May 29, resulted in over 200 fatalities, displaced more than 3,000 residents, and caused substantial damage to homes, farms, and critical infrastructure.
