The National Emergency Management Agency has reported that 1,048,312 people have been affected by flooding in Nigeria between April and September 2024.

NEMA director-general Zubaida Umar disclosed this at the National Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF) in Abuja on Thursday.

Ms Umar stated that 625,239 persons had been displaced and 259 lives lost to the disaster.

She commiserated with those affected and assured them that the federal government, through NEMA, would provide necessary support.

She said the main reason for convening the meeting was to receive updates on the flood situation and assign roles and responsibilities to stakeholders.

Ms Umar noted that although flooding could not be totally prevented, efforts were being made to mitigate its impact.

According to Ms Umar, 29 states and 172 local government areas have been impacted by flooding, affecting 1,048,312 people, displacing 625,239, and resulting in 259 deaths. She emphasised the need for a coordinated response to the disaster.

“NEMA has activated Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in some states and deployed additional staff to support search and rescue operations,” stated Ms Umar. “The agency has also provided water purification equipment and critical search and rescue tools to affected states.”

Ms Umar appreciated the support of international partners and encouraged them to continue providing assistance while monitoring the situation.

(NAN)