Drowning in crisis: Nigeria must step up aid for flood-ravaged regions now

Dr Yusuf Aliu
As floods wreak havoc across Nigeria, it is no longer just a humanitarian crisis- it’s a test of our collective conscience. Over 300 lives have already been lost, and more than 1.2 million people have been displaced, their homes, schools, and livelihoods submerged.

The latest figures from UNICEF show that children—innocent, vulnerable, and powerless—make up 60 percent of those desperately in need. With cholera and waterborne diseases spreading the government must recognize the magnitude of this crisis and act decisively to alleviate suffering in flood-ravaged areas.

This is not the first time Nigeria has faced devastating floods, but they’ve reached such ferocity for the first time in a decade.

We cannot afford to respond with the same inadequate measures that have left so many communities in despair year after year. It is time to abandon piecemeal responses and invest in a comprehensive, proactive, and transparent humanitarian approach that meets the needs of those affected.

*Health and food insecurity: A growing emergency

The floodwaters have done more than destroy homes—they’ve unleashed a wave of health crises, amplifying a cholera outbreak that has already claimed over 350 lives. In Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe alone, 7,485 cholera cases and 319 deaths have been recorded this year.

The latest report by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicted that Borno, most of Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers states will be prone to flooding in the coming days.

The release of the Oyan River Dam has already affected parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

With continued rainfall expected, these numbers will rise without an immediate, large-scale response. Furthermore, as farms and food stores are swallowed by water, millions face food insecurity.

Recent Cadre Harmonisé projections show that 4.8 million people in North-East Nigeria will struggle to find enough food during the lean season. If the government doesn’t act, malnutrition will deepen, especially among children.

Let’s not forget that aid should go beyond emergency handouts; communities need sustainable solutions. People deserve not only survival but the opportunity to rebuild. They need their dignity intact. Emergency food and medical supplies are critical, but so is ensuring they have the resources to restart their lives once the waters recede.

*Government response: A call for action, transparency, and coordination

The scale of the floods demands more than reactionary measures. The Nigerian government must immediately mobilize resources, partnering with international organizations to secure the funding and technical assistance essential for a robust humanitarian response. This isn’t just a question of distributing food and clean water but preventing the spread of deadly diseases, supporting displaced farmers, and restoring vital infrastructure.

The public’s trust in government aid distribution has long been marred by inefficiency and lack of transparency.

This crisis offers the government a chance to redeem itself. It’s time for officials to take ownership and ensure aid reaches all affected areas without delay, waste, or favouritism. We can no longer afford bureaucratic delays; this is a time for swift, unambiguous action.

*Investing in resilience to prevent future disasters

If we are serious about change, our response must go beyond immediate relief. Flooding is an annual occurrence in Nigeria, bringing the same tragic headlines each year.

We need better-prepared infrastructure, more robust flood defences, and sustainable planning that minimizes damage when floods inevitably return. Investments in resilient housing, drainage systems, and reinforced bridges will help prevent future loss of life and property.

*A national responsibility

Every passing day of inaction is a choice that leaves vulnerable Nigerians in peril. As a nation, we must ask ourselves if we are willing to accept the suffering of millions as “business as usual.”

The time to act is now, not when the crisis subsides. Nigeria’s people deserve more than temporary relief; they deserve a government willing to protect and uplift them in the face of hardship.

The floods of 2024 should be a turning point, not another tragic chapter in a predictable cycle. We must demand immediate, sustained, and compassionate action from our government—before more lives are lost and rising waters sweep away more futures.

*Yusuf J Aliu, PhD, CMGR FCMI France, writes via: [email protected]