Climate Watch: Anxiety over ‘more devastating’ floods in August for 28 states, FCT

Despite directly impacting our communities, health, and livelihood, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business. Climate Watch aims to ensure you never miss important stories on climate change and actions being taken towards limiting its impact.

Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories:

The flood disaster in Nigeria is getting more intense, leading to the loss of lives and property. Within the last three months, flood has killed up to 26 persons and destroyed over 1000 houses in Kano alone. Sahel Jili, the executive secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said 50 other persons sustained injuries owing to the flood and windstorm that affected Bunkure, Minjibir, Tarauni, and Doguwa LGAs. Jili said the government is already helping to provide relief materials to the affected victims but appealed for the support of individuals and corporate organisations to help ameliorate the plight of residents.  Read more here 

Also in Katsina, heavy rains last week that caused flooding took the lives of two persons and destroyed 1500 houses. Umar Mohammed, public relations officer of Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said the affected houses were located in Faskari, Bindawa, and Sabuwa LGAs of the state. He said the agency is already making efforts to assist families of the two victims who died from the heavy rainfall in Bindawa LGA. Some of the residents of Katsina metropolis expressed worry over the recent flooding of major streets and asked that the government should assist them and prevent further casualties. Read further here 

Despite already devastating communities, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) still predicted last week that 28 states and the FCT should expect more devastating floods in the coming weeks. Clement Nze, the director-general of the agency said the states along the rivers Niger and Benue may also begin to experience more devastating flooding from the end of August. He mentioned that states are experiencing severe flooding as a result of heavy rains, poor drainage systems, and Nigeria’s position at the river Niger basin. Find out what he said should be done here.

In the area of environmental protection and rehabilitation, Nigeria seems to need more support to do better. And that is why the federal government last week, called on developed countries to support Nigeria in the implementation of its environmental protection programmes. Mohammad Abubakar, minister of environment, said support from developed countries like the United Kingdom will enhance the ministry’s efforts in ensuring a healthy and safe environment. He said Nigeria is willing to raise its ambitions in the area of environmental protection but cannot do so without international support and collaboration. Read more here

In another development, climate change is worsening food insecurity in northern Nigeria. The United Nations Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility (UNDP – GEF) has warned of possible acute food insecurity in the region. Rhoda Dia, project manager, UNDP – GEF, said growing levels of food insecurity in the country are also exacerbated by decades of insecurity which has caused increasing poverty and economic crisis. She said women, girls, and the elderly were the most vulnerable to climate change owing to low adaptive capacity, poor access to resources and exclusion from decision-making. She also advised that agricultural waste be converted to energy and other economically viable repurposed products to reduce poverty and grow the economy. Find out more here.