The federal government estimates that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the 36 states of the federation suffered a direct median economic loss of $6.68 billion as a result of last year’s countrywide floods.
Damage to residential and non-residential buildings, as well as infrastructure, economic sectors, and farmland, are among the losses.
Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, announced this in Abuja yesterday during the presentation of the Global Rapid (Post Disaster) Damage Estimation (GRADE) Assessment Report of Nigeria’s flood situation in 2022. According to the research, the damage incurred was in the range of $3.79 billion to $9.12 billion based on currently disclosed information as of November 25, 2023.
Farouq, presenting the report’s primary results, stated that the 2022 flood, considered the worst in the country, hit all 36 states and the FCT.
She also stated that the flood affected between 4.4 million and 4.9 million people or around 2% of the country’s population.
According to the report, the considerable damage to infrastructure, including roads, irrigation, and river infrastructure, as well as WASH and energy facilities, is projected to be over $1.23 billion.
The report stated that crops, associated water infrastructure, fisheries, and livestock were severely damaged, with over 650,000 hectares of crops devastated. It anticipated $1.8 billion in damage to the agricultural sector. According to the research, the hardest impacted states are Jigawa, Rivers, Taraba, Cross River, and Delta.