The Kebbi State Government has reported that severe flooding has killed 29 people, destroyed 321,000 houses, and washed away 858,000 hectares of farmlands in the state.
The farmlands affected were filled with essential crops such as rice, millet, sorghum, beans, and other staples.
Kebbi State’s Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Birnin Kebbi, shared these details during a briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Friday. He said the scale of the destruction was beyond what the state government could handle, despite efforts already made to help the victims.
“Governor Nasir’s administration has done its best to cater to those affected by the flooding, and reports on the level of the disaster in each community have been compiled. These will be presented to the Federal Agencies concerned,” said the commissioner.
He emphasized that the state urgently needs help to resettle the affected families, many of whom have lost their homes and livelihoods. “The disaster has forced farmers into poverty, and there is a looming food shortage unless quick action is taken.”
According to the preliminary data, seven people died in Ngaski, eight in Maiyama, five in Kalgo, seven in Jega, and two in Birnin Kebbi due to the flooding.
The commissioner also highlighted the need for improved seeds and other farming inputs to help farmers return to their fields but admitted that more support is needed from outside sources.
When asked about the N3 billion grant for flood mitigation from the Federal Government, Yakubu Birnin Kebbi said he was not aware if the state had received the funds. He also expressed disappointment that Kebbi State members in the National Assembly, including senators, had not yet visited the flood-hit areas to offer help.
In response to communities still living in flood-prone areas, the commissioner warned that the government would use force to evacuate them to safer locations if necessary.
