Flood kills 29, destroys 321,000 houses, 858,000 hectares of farmlands
Kebbi State is grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding, which has claimed 29 lives, destroyed 329,000 houses, and washed away 858,000 hectares of farmland. The farmlands, vital to the state’s agriculture, were home to crops such as rice, millet, guinea corn, sorghum, and beans.
During a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi, Yakubu Birnin Kebbi, the State Commissioner for Information and Culture, expressed the government’s struggle to mitigate the disaster. Despite efforts by Governor Nasir’s administration, the overwhelming scale of the devastation has prompted a call for urgent assistance.
“The situation is dire, and many farmers have lost their livelihoods. Food shortages are looming unless immediate action is taken,” said the Commissioner.
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Preliminary figures show multiple fatalities in affected areas: seven in Ngaski, eight in Maiyama, five in Kalgo, seven in Jega, and two in Birnin Kebbi. The Commissioner also noted that the state government is working to provide improved seeds and agricultural inputs to affected farmers but emphasized the need for external support.
The state awaits confirmation on whether it has accessed the N3 billion Federal Government grant for flood mitigation.
