The extreme weather has wreaked havoc on Nigeria’s north-central states, with rainstorms and floods destroying Plateau, Niger, and Kogi states. The disasters have displaced residents, destroyed infrastructure, and inundated farms, with calls for the government to act urgently.
In Plateau State, a torrential rainstorm tore through the Menkaat community in Shimankar ward of Shendam Local Government Area, flattening over 50 houses. The storm, which occurred early Sunday morning, also tore off the roofs of two primary schools and a religious centre.
Local resident Lawrence Longwalk described the scene as disastrous: “Our people have been severely hit by a rainstorm. From the nature of the destruction, they need urgent help.”
Floods in Niger State over the weekend ruined vast hectares of cropped land in several villages in Kafin Koro (Paikoro LGA) and Lapai LGA. Some of the villages affected include Dere, Eshi, Apataku, Tsakanabi, Kuchi Kakanda, Arah, Achiba, Rebba, etc.
The state government has urged individuals living at the flood-risk areas to relocate to higher grounds. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, confirmed the occurrence and urged precautionary evacuation.
“Though we understand the attachment to ancestral homes, the government urges communities to relocate upland so that we don’t witness a recurrence of tragedies like Mokwa,” he said.
In neighboring Kogi State, floodwaters have completely cut off the link between Idah Local Government Area and the state capital, Lokoja, after a principal linking bridge along the Ajegwu–Okpachala–Idah road collapsed in the floods.
There was total traffic disruption on the road, eyewitness Alhaji Ali Atabor said, and another resident, Salisu Isah, said the only entry to Lokoja is now through Anyigba a longer and tougher route.
Idah is one of nine flood-prone LGAs in Kogi, which are Ibaji, Ofu, Kogi, Ajaokuta, Bassa, Lokoja, Adavi, and Igalamela. The people are calling on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA) to immediately come to their rescue.
With the rainy season getting worse, anxiety is high among the affected communities as authorities scramble to provide relief and prevent further destruction.
