2012 Nigeria floods

Last updated
2012 Nigeria floods
Nigeria political.png
Nigeria
DateJuly – October 2012
Location Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, and Benue States were worst affected.
Deaths363 people killed, over 2,100,000 displaced. [1] [2]

The 2012 Nigeria floods began in early July 2012. It killed 363 people and displaced over 2.1 million people as of 5 November 2012. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), 30 of Nigeria's 36 states were affected by the floods and the two most affected areas were Kogi and Benue States. [3] The floods were termed as the worst in 40 years, [4] and affected an estimated total of seven million people. [5] The estimated damages and losses caused by the floods was N2.6 trillion. [6]

Contents

Causes

Nigeria suffers from seasonal flash floods [7] during its annual rainy season. They are sometimes lethal, especially in the rural areas and overcrowded slums, where drainage is poor or does not exist at all. [8]

July

On the 2nd of July 2012, many Nigerian coastal and inland cities experienced heavy rains, and residents of Lagos were "gasping for breath" due to the flooding. [9] In addition, there was gridlock on major roads, causing people to cancel or postpone appointments they may have had. [10] Thousands of stranded commuters had to pay increased fares for the few bus drivers who were willing to risk travelling on the roads, and construction of work by the Nigerian government on the inner Oke-Afa Road took a "heavy toll." [11]

Water Submerged settlement Water Submerged settlement.jpg
Water Submerged settlement

In mid-July 2012, flooding in the Ibadan metropolis caused some residents at Challenge, Oke-Ayo, and Eleyele to flee from their residences and save their lives. [12] The flooding also prevented some Christians from attending churches in the morning, while a few bridges caved in. The Nigerian government said that certain structures on waterways had to be demolished as a result of the flooding, while Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bosun Oladele, announced that there weren't any casualties from the flooding. [12]

In late July 2012, at least 39 people were killed due to flooding in the central Nigerian Plateau State. [13] Heavy rainfall caused the Lamingo dam to overflow near Jos, sweeping across a number of neighbourhoods in Jos, and approximately 200 homes were submerged or destroyed. [13] In addition, at least 35 people were missing, while Manasie Phampe, the head of the Red Cross in the state, announced that relief efforts were ongoing. The floods left 3,000 people homeless, many of whom are taking refuge in government buildings in Jos. [14]

August

In mid-August, flooding killed at least 33 people in Plateau State, and co-ordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency in central Nigeria, Abdussalam Muhammad, said that homes were destroyed [15] while roads and bridges were washed away ;obstructing relief efforts. Over 12,000 people were affected by the flooding in six districts of the state, while hundreds were rendered homeless. [16]

Submerged Houses in Makurdi Submerged Houses.jpg
Submerged Houses in Makurdi

September

Release of water from the Lagdo Reservoir in Cameroon caused the deaths of 30 people in Benue State. [17]

In Anambra State, the flooding affected many local government areas and communities, especially those in the riverine areas that included Ayamelu, Ogbaru, Anambra West and Anambra East. It was reported that flooding displaced about 2 million people in Anambra State in 2012. The Governor, Peter Obi arranged for vehicles and boats to evacuate the community dwellers who were trapped in their homes as well as those that escaped to the tree tops to avoid being washed away. Emergency relief materials were sent to different displaced camps were flood victims were sent to. [18]

October

In early-October, the floods spread to Delta State and Bayelsa State and rendered about 120,000 people homeless, according to state authorities and the Nigerian Red Cross. [4] Several temporary displacement sites set up were also flooded forcing people to flee. In Yenagoa, 3,000 people were sleeping at the Ovom State Sports Complex. [4] In Delta State, among the buildings destroyed by the floods were 20 health clinics, five hospitals, many schools, churches and government buildings. Schools were either closed or occupied by internally displaced persons. [4] The floods also spread across Benue State where a local river overflowed causing the displacement of over 25,000 people. [19]

On 9 October, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan released 17.6 billion naira (US$111 million) to various states and agencies for damage response, flood relief and rehabilitation. [4]

Lokoja Flood 2012 Lokoja Flood 2012 10 01.jpg
Lokoja Flood 2012

Kogi State was the worst affected with 623,900 people being displaced and 152,575 hectares of farmland destroyed, according to a NEMA coordinator. Jonathan called the floods "a national disaster". [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kogi State</span> State of Nigeria

Kogi State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the west by the states of Ekiti and Kwara, to the north by the Federal Capital Territory, to the northeast by Nasarawa State, to the northwest by Niger State, to the southwest by the Edo and Ondo states, to the southeast by the states of Anambra and Enugu, and to the east by Benue State. It is the only state in Nigeria to border ten other states. Named for the Hausa word for river (Kogi). Kogi State was formed from parts of Benue State, Niger State, and Kwara State on 27 August 1991. The state is nicknamed the "Confluence State" due to the fact that the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue occurs next to its capital, Lokoja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benue River</span> Tributary of the Niger River in Cameroon and Nigeria

Benue River, previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is the major tributary of the Niger River. The size of its catchment basin is 319,000 km2. Almost its entire length of approximately 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) is navigable during the summer months. As a result, it is an important transportation route in the regions through which it flows. The name Benue comes from 'Ber-nor, meaning 'river or lake of hippopotamus in the Tiv language,{{ref >= benue Wikipedia]] The River Benue looking south east from Jimeta.]]

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plateau State</span> State of Nigeria

Plateau State is a north central Nigerian state. It is located near the centre of Nigeria and includes a range of hills surrounding the Jos Plateau. Plateau State is described as "The Home of Peace and Tourism". The state has a population of around 4.7 million people. Its capital city is Jos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasarawa State</span> State of Nigeria

Nasarawa State is a state in the North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by the states of Taraba and Plateau, to the north by Kaduna State, to the south by the states of Benue and Kogi, and to the west by the Federal Capital Territory. Named for the historic Nasarawa Emirate, the state was formed from the west of Plateau State on 1 October 1996. The state has thirteen local government areas and its capital is Lafia, located in the east of the state, while a key economic centre of the state is the Karu Urban Area—suburbs of Abuja—along the western border with the FCT.

Articles related to Nigeria include:

Ogbaru is a local government area in Anambra State, south-central Nigeria. The area's local government headquarters is in the port city of Atani.

Onitsha North is a Local Government Area in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. The headquarters is in GRA, Onitsha. Onitsha is the only town in Onitsha North and Onitsha South LGA. Onitsha North has a boundary by Idemili North and Oyi local government areas to the East, Anambra East local government area to the North, Onitsha South local government area by the South and Delta State by the West. But then, it has various localities that are residential areas for the population living in the local government area. These include Omagba Layout Phases 1 & 2, Inland Town, GRA, Federal Housing Estate Trans Nkisi GRA, Akpaka, Odoakpu, Ose, Omagba, etc. Onitsha North also has various primary and secondary schools owned by the government, individuals, and missions. It is also known as the city where the biggest market in West Africa is situated. However, Onitsha North has experienced several degrees of conflicts and riots. It was also affected by floods.

Federalism in Nigeria refers to the devolution of self-governance by the West African nation of Nigeria to its federated states, who share sovereignty with the Federal Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagdo Reservoir</span> Reservoir in North Province

Lagdo Reservoir is a reservoir located in the Northern Province of Cameroon, on the Benue River, in the Niger basin. The lake covers an area of 586 km2.

The 2010 Nigerien floods were floods across Niger which left over 111,000 people homeless. Niger was already suffering acute food shortages following prolonged drought in the Sahel region. As of 24 August 2010, at least 6 to 8 people had died. The Niger river was pushed to its highest levels in 80 years. The floods subsequently spread along the River Niger into Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin over the next few months. Later storms also brewed up in the CAR, Morocco and northern Algeria.

The following lists events that happened during 2012 in Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Benue State flooding</span> Major floods in Nigeria in 2017

The 2017 Benue State flooding took place in September 2017 in Benue State, Nigeria. It displaced at least 100,000 people, and damaged more than 2,000 homes.

The Brahmaputra floods refers to a catastrophic flood event that occurred in 2012 along the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries, as well as in subsequent years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural disasters in Nigeria</span> Natural disaster in Nigeria

Natural disasters in Nigeria are mainly related to the climate of Nigeria, which has been reported to cause loss of lives and properties. A natural disaster might be caused by flooding, landslides, and insect infestation, among others. To be classified as a disaster, there is needs to be a profound environmental effect or human loss which must lead to financial loss. This occurrence has become an issue of concern, threatening large populations living in diverse environments in recent years.

Events in the year 2022 in Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Africa floods</span> Historical Event

Throughout 2022, floods affected most of Africa, killing over 2,100 people. The worst affected country was Nigeria, with over 610 deaths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Nigeria floods</span> Major floods in Nigeria in 2022

The 2022 Nigeria floods affected many parts of the country. From the Federal Government Data, the floods had displaced over 1.4 million people, killed over 603 people, and injured more than 2,400 people. About 82,035 houses had been damaged, and 332,327 hectares of land had also been affected.

The Ogbaru boat disaster, also called the Ogbaru boat mishap or Anambra boat mishap, was the accidental sinking of a boat on the Niger River in Nigeria on 7 October 2022, causing 76 deaths. It took place during the 2022 Nigeria floods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Adamawa State flood</span> Flood disaster in Nigeria in 2022

The 2022 Adamawa State flood was a natural disaster that occurred in Adamawa State, Nigeria, in September 2022. It affected over 30,000 square kilometers of land and exposed about 6.6 million people to potential risks. The flood was caused by heavy rainfall and increased water flows from the Cameroonian highlands. It resulted in 25 deaths, 58 injuries, and the displacement of 131,638 people. It also submerged 153 communities and damaged houses, farmlands and other properties. The flood highlighted the vulnerability of the region to such events and the need for better preparedness and mitigation measures.

The Borno State flooding was a natural disaster that took place in September 2024 in Borno State, particularly the Maiduguri and Jere local government areas of Borno State, Nigeria. According to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), it displaced over 70% of the residents in Maiduguri.

References

  1. ↑ "Nigeria floods kill 363 people, displace 2.1 mln". Reuters. November 5, 2012. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Thirty dead in Nigeria flood, 120,000 displaced". AFP. September 9, 2012. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ Susan, Agada. "A serious flooding event in Nigeria in 2012 with specific focus on Benue State: a brief review".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "NIGERIA: Worst flooding in decades". IRIN Africa. October 10, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Nigeria floods test government's disaster plans". The Guardian. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ "2012 flood disaster cost Nigeria N2.6tn –NEMA". punchng.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Nigeria Braces for Flood Season - Nigeria". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  8. ↑ "Nigeria floods kill 137, displace thousands". Reuters. September 9, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ "DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE (CASE STUDY PORT-HARCOURT)". project.camppromat.com. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  10. ↑ "CARITAS UNIVERSITY AMORJI NIKE, ENUGU, NIGERIA FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OFARCHITECTURE DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE, PORT-HARCOURT. ARCHITECTURE Project Topics". eduproject.com.ng. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  11. ↑ Inyama, Nnamdi; Muanya, Chukwuma; Adepetun, Adeyemi (July 3, 2012). "Lagosians gasp for breath as flood ravages the city". The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  12. 1 2 Ajayi, Ola (July 16, 2012). "Nigeria: Flood Sacks Ibadan Residents". AllAfrica. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  13. 1 2 "Deadly floods in central Nigeria". BBC News. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  14. ↑ "Nigeria: Deadly flooding in Jos in Plateau state". BBC. July 24, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Central Nigeria floods kill 33". BBC News. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  16. ↑ "Nigeria Plateau state floods kill 33". BBC. August 14, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Flooding in Nigeria". NASA Earth Observatory. September 12, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  18. ↑ adefaye (2012-09-29). "Flood takes over Anambra communities as Gov Obi cries for help". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
  19. ↑ "Nigeria floods kill dozens, wash hippos and crocodiles into homes". CNN. October 5, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Nigeria flooding called 'natural disaster'". Al Jazeera. October 12, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.