The devastating floods in Mokwa, Niger State, have sent jitters across the country, especially in states predicted to be hit by floods in the coming days and months. Farmers are already in a panic because of the potential impact this development may have on their businesses, if it is allowed to unfold as it did in Mokwa.
The farmers, who spoke with Sunday Vanguard, warned that food insecurity may worsen unless something pragmatic was done to mitigate the impact, as they recalled past experiences of similar disasters.
In 2024, reports say over 90 per cent of crop-farming households and 76 per cent of livestock farmers were affected by floods. Additionally, 2.5 million people were impacted, with around 200,000 displaced.
Rains poured heavily, rivers, streams, lakes and dams overflowed their banks and over 16, 000 hectares of farmland destroyed, impacting 29 states and 154 local government areas.
Mostly affected were Bauchi State where over 50,000 hectares of farmland were destroyed; Taraba had over 22, 000 hectares affected, Jigawa’s 9,919 hectares of farmland inundated, and farmers suffered terrible losses.
Farmers in some states reported losses of over N1 billion in farm produce and crops.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, an estimated loss of 855,629 metric tonnes of food, which was enough food to feed 8.5 million people for six months, was recorded, and the floods negatively impacted on food insecurity across the country, hence high cost of food prices in markets.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, at a press conference on the heels of the Mokwa floods, warned that more rains are coming, saying states, local governments, and communities need to prepare ahead to avoid the fury of waters likely to sweep across states and local government areas mentioned in the Annual Flood Outlook, AFO, predictions released on April 10, 2025 by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA.
According to the Minister, the AFO identified 1,249 communities across 176 local government areas in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as high flood-risk zones.
He said: “The high-risk states include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.”
2025 floods may destroy farmlands, worsen food insecurity – Yam farmers
The National President, Yam Farmers Association of Nigeria, YFAN, Prof Simon Irtwange, speaking from Makurdi, Benue State, said the predictions are clear, saying: “Therefore, the 2025 floods will definitely destroy more farmlands and worsen the current status of food insecurity already affected by activities of herdsmen and bandits’ attacks in parts of the major food producing states.
“Nigerians are already food insecure as a result of banditry and herdsmen attacks. “Flooding will just add to the equation by destroying more farmlands and worsening food security situation in the country.”
However, he counseled, “Government at all levels must take steps to provide drainage channels, clear obstructions along waterways, and mobilise the communities to take responsibility for ensuring maintenance of drainage infrastructure in their communities.
“Farmers must desist from practices that compact the soil, reduce rainfall infiltration, and create runoff along steep and sloppy terrains.”
Vanguard
