The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has issued a critical alert about Nigeria’s worsening food security crisis, as widespread flooding continues to devastate the country. Affecting 29 states, the floods have displaced thousands and caused severe damage to farmland, threatening the livelihoods of millions. By early September 2024, over 2.5 million people had been impacted, with approximately 200,000 displaced from their homes.
In a statement on September 13, 2024, FAO expressed deep concern about the escalating crisis, with 31.8 million Nigerians already facing acute food insecurity. FAO’s representative ad interim, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, warned that the floods are plunging vulnerable communities deeper into poverty and stressed the need for urgent, coordinated action to prevent a full-scale humanitarian disaster.
As of September 10, 2024, FAO reported that 1.3 million hectares of land were submerged, including 558,000 hectares of cropland. Floodwaters continue to rise, with rivers overflowing and dams nearing capacity. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned of additional flooding risks, particularly in the northeast and western regions. States like Borno, Bauchi, Bayelsa, and Kano are among the most vulnerable.
FAO emphasized the importance of improving infrastructure, early warning systems, and rapid response mechanisms to mitigate the impact of the floods. Kouacou highlighted that the upcoming October−November 2024 analysis of the Cadre Harmonisé will offer a clearer view of the floods’ effect on food security and nutrition in Nigeria.
In northeastern states such as Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe, the situation is especially dire, with 880,000 people affected and nearly 300,000 hectares of farmland destroyed. Borno State has faced significant destruction, particularly after the collapse of the Alau Dam, which has impacted over 239,000 people and affected 50 percent of the state capital, Maiduguri. The floods have also severely disrupted essential services like hospitals and schools, and caused substantial damage to critical infrastructure such as bridges.
Authorities in Borno State are evacuating high-risk areas and have set up eight centers to house evacuees, as the region braces for potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Meanwhile, Adamawa State is on high alert for further flooding due to the possible release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is leading relief efforts in collaboration with Nigerian authorities, including FAO and NEMA, to assess the needs of flood victims and deliver aid. In Maiduguri, eight internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been reopened to provide shelter and distribute essential supplies.
FAO has called for immediate, flexible funding to support ongoing relief efforts and early recovery in flood-affected areas. The organization is working with local authorities to assess agricultural losses and strengthen early warning systems to better prepare for future disasters. FAO also urged the international community to continue supporting Nigeria through this evolving crisis.
FAO remains dedicated to helping Nigeria confront the urgent challenges posed by the floods, aiming to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation and to build resilience against future disasters. Kouacou stressed the importance of a coordinated, swift response to avoid deepening food insecurity and pushing more Nigerians into poverty.
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