The death toll from severe flooding across Nigeria has risen to 192, affecting 29 states, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.
The ongoing disaster, driven by unprecedented rainfall and the rising levels of the Niger and Benue rivers, continues to wreak havoc across the country.
According to the PUNCH, the agency’s spokesperson, Ezekiel Manzo, confirmed the updated figures in a statement on Sunday, noting that Plateau State has now joined the list of affected regions, bringing the total number of impacted states to 29.
“I got information from our Emergency Operation Centre that the death toll has increased to 192,” Manzo said.
“The latest figure is as a result of flooding that happened in Plateau State.”
The states suffering from the flooding include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, the Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and now Plateau.
Manzo highlighted the agency’s ongoing efforts to warn and educate residents in flood-prone areas, though he acknowledged that some have disregarded these warnings.
“Some people underrated the information given to them because we carried out a lot of sensitization,” he explained.
“So, if information has been given over and over, and this thing is still happening, it means some people underrated the information.”
He also pointed out the possibility that the flooding might have exceeded initial predictions, as some areas not previously known for flooding have been severely impacted this year.
“There is a high amount of rainfall that we have recorded so far, with high impact,” Manzo added.
NEMA has intensified its sensitization programs to better prepare and protect communities at risk as the situation develops.
