2012 Nigeria floods

Nigeria suffers from seasonal flash floods{{Cite web|title=Nigeria Braces for Flood Season - Nigeria|url=https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/nigeria-braces-flood-season|access-date=2022-02-01|website=ReliefWeb|language=en}} during its annual rainy season. They are sometimes lethal, especially in the rural areas and overcrowded slums, where drainage is poor or does not exist at all.{{cite web | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-floods-idUSBRE8880D320120909 | title=Nigeria floods kill 137, displace thousands | publisher=Reuters | date=September 9, 2012 | access-date=September 9, 2012}}

On the 2nd of July 2012, many Nigerian coastal and inland cities experienced heavy rains, and residents of Lagos were "gasping for breath" due to the flooding.{{Cite web|title=DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE (CASE STUDY PORT-HARCOURT)|url=https://project.camppromat.com/1976/DISASTER-MANAGEMENT-CENTRE--CASE-STUDY-PORT-HARCOURT-|access-date=2022-02-01|website=project.camppromat.com}} In addition, there was gridlock on major roads, causing people to cancel or postpone appointments they may have had.{{Cite web|title=CARITAS UNIVERSITY AMORJI NIKE, ENUGU, NIGERIA FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OFARCHITECTURE DISASTER MANAGEMENT CENTRE, PORT-HARCOURT. ARCHITECTURE Project Topics|url=https://eduproject.com.ng/architecture/caritas-university-amorji-nike-enugu-nigeria-faculty-of-environmental-sciences-department-ofarchitecture-disaster-management-centre-port-harcourt/index.html|access-date=2022-02-01|website=eduproject.com.ng}} Thousands of stranded commuters had to pay increased fares for the few bus drivers who were willing to risk travelling on the roads, and construction of work by the Nigerian government on the inner Oke-Afa Road took a "heavy toll."{{cite web | url=http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91133:lagosians-gasp-for-breath-as-flood-ravages-the-city-&catid=1:national&Itemid=559 | title=Lagosians gasp for breath as flood ravages the city | publisher=The Guardian Nigeria | date=July 3, 2012 | access-date=September 9, 2012 |author1=Inyama, Nnamdi |author2=Muanya, Chukwuma |author3=Adepetun, Adeyemi }}

File:Water Submerged settlement.jpg

In mid-July 2012, flooding in the Ibadan metropolis caused some residents at Challenge, Oke-Ayo, and Eleyele to flee from their residences and save their lives. The flooding also prevented some Christians from attending churches in the morning, while a few bridges caved in. The Nigerian government said that certain structures on waterways had to be demolished as a result of the flooding, while Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bosun Oladele, announced that there weren't any casualties from the flooding.{{cite web | url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201207160578.html | title=Nigeria: Flood Sacks Ibadan Residents | publisher=AllAfrica | date=July 16, 2012 | access-date=September 9, 2012 | author=Ajayi, Ola}}

In late July 2012, at least 39 people were killed due to flooding in the central Nigerian Plateau State.{{Cite web |date=2012-07-24 |title=Deadly floods in central Nigeria |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-18966160 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Heavy rainfall caused the Lamingo dam to overflow near Jos, sweeping across a number of neighbourhoods in Jos, and approximately 200 homes were submerged or destroyed. In addition, at least 35 people were missing, while Manasie Phampe, the head of the Red Cross in the state, announced that relief efforts were ongoing.

The floods left 3,000 people homeless, many of whom are taking refuge in government buildings in Jos.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18966160 | title=Nigeria: Deadly flooding in Jos in Plateau state | publisher=BBC | date=July 24, 2012 | access-date=September 9, 2012}}

In mid-August, flooding killed at least 33 people in Plateau State, and co-ordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency in central Nigeria, Abdussalam Muhammad, said that homes were destroyed{{Cite news |date=2012-08-15 |title=Central Nigeria floods kill 33 |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-19261581 |access-date=2022-05-20}} while roads and bridges were washed away ;obstructing relief efforts. Over 12,000 people were affected by the flooding in six districts of the state, while hundreds were rendered homeless.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19261581 | title=Nigeria Plateau state floods kill 33 | publisher=BBC | date=August 14, 2012 | access-date=September 9, 2012}}

File:Submerged Houses.jpg]]

Release of water from the Lagdo Reservoir in Cameroon caused the deaths of 30 people in Benue State.{{cite web | url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=79149 | title=Flooding in Nigeria | publisher=NASA Earth Observatory | date=September 12, 2012 | access-date=May 27, 2015}}

In Anambra State, the flooding affected many local government areas and communities, especially those in the riverine areas that included Ayamelu, Ogbaru, Anambra West and Anambra East. It was reported that flooding displaced about 2 million people in Anambra State in 2012. The Governor, Peter Obi arranged for vehicles and boats to evacuate the community dwellers who were trapped in their homes as well as those that escaped to the tree tops to avoid being washed away. Emergency relief materials were sent to different displaced camps were flood victims were sent to.{{Cite web |last=adefaye |date=2012-09-29 |title=Flood takes over Anambra communities as Gov Obi cries for help |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/flood-takes-over-anambra-communities-as-gov-obi-cries-for-help/ |access-date=2022-12-06 |website=Vanguard News |language=en-GB}}

In early-October, the floods spread to Delta State and Bayelsa State and rendered about 120,000 people homeless, according to state authorities and the Nigerian Red Cross. Several temporary displacement sites set up were also flooded forcing people to flee. In Yenagoa, 3,000 people were sleeping at the Ovom State Sports Complex. In Delta State, among the buildings destroyed by the floods were 20 health clinics, five hospitals, many schools, churches and government buildings. Schools were either closed or occupied by internally displaced persons. The floods also spread across Benue State where a local river overflowed causing the displacement of over 25,000 people.{{cite web | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/10/05/world/africa/nigeria-floods/ | title=Nigeria floods kill dozens, wash hippos and crocodiles into homes | publisher=CNN | date=October 5, 2012 | access-date=May 27, 2015}}

On 9 October, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan released 17.6 billion naira (US$111 million) to various states and agencies for damage response, flood relief and rehabilitation.

File:Lokoja Flood 2012 10 01.jpg Flood 2012]]

Kogi State was the worst affected with 623,900 people being displaced and 152,575 hectares of farmland destroyed, according to a NEMA coordinator. Jonathan called the floods "a national disaster".{{cite web | url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/10/2012101283421969871.html | title=Nigeria flooding called 'natural disaster' | publisher=Al Jazeera | date=October 12, 2012 | access-date=May 27, 2015}}

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• 2022 Nigeria floods
• List of deadliest floods

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