…..as HDAN seeks emergency homes for victims
Over one million people have been affected, and 94,741 left homeless, as this year’s devastating floods submerged 125,805 farmlands across the country.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) raised the alarm during an assessment tour in Kebbi State, highlighting the widespread damage caused by the disaster.
The Director-General of NEMA, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, disclosed these figures in Birnin Kebbi, while leading the agency’s management team on a visit to flood-risk areas in the state. Umar, represented by Dr. Daniel Obot, the agency’s director of Disaster/Risk Reduction, revealed that data from NEMA’s Emergency Coordination Centre (EOC) as of September 13 showed that 176 local government areas in 30 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had been affected. This is in contrast to the 148 LGAs in 31 states predicted by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
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During the visit, the team also met with Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida. The governor commended NEMA’s efforts in assessing the damage, stating, “Your visit to the risk areas and states in the country will help you identify more areas in urgent need of assistance.”
In response to the rising number of displaced individuals, the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) has called for urgent support in providing emergency homes and shelter for flood victims.
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HDAN emphasized the need for immediate action to house the 94,741 people left homeless, stressing that the situation demands both temporary shelter solutions and long-term recovery efforts to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
With thousands of families displaced and their livelihoods destroyed, HDAN is calling for partnerships between government agencies and private sector stakeholders to mobilize resources and provide homes for those most affected.