When the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, recently declared that Bayelsa was not among the 10 most impacted states in the 2022 flood disaster, her statement caused considerable unease, particularly among Niger Delta residents and environmentalists. Farouq’s claim that Jigawa, located in the North-West, was the hardest-hit state immediately ignited a divisive debate. This reaction reflects a broader pattern among Nigeria’s leaders, who often politicize critical national challenges and respond with delay and ineffectiveness. With 33 states affected by the floods, the government’s primary focus should have been mobilizing all available resources to bring relief to every victim and the communities ravaged by the disaster.

Farouq’s comments were made in response to a public outcry by Edwin Clark, a prominent leader from the Niger Delta, who had called attention to the severe flooding in the region, stressing the need for urgent intervention. Reports from Bayelsa, like in other states, painted a grim picture: the capital, Yenagoa, was isolated from surrounding areas, and thousands were displaced by the floodwaters. Alarmed by the extent of the devastation, the United Nations voiced its concern over the loss of lives, properties, and livelihoods caused by the disaster, describing it as a “crisis of major proportions that requires immediate attention.”

Mathias Schmale, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, compared the situation in Bayelsa to the catastrophic floods in Pakistan, which resulted in 1,700 deaths, displaced nearly 8 million people, destroyed over 372,000 buildings, and affected 33 million individuals.

However, Bayelsa is not the only state in distress. In total, 33 states in Nigeria experienced varying degrees of flooding this year. One-third of Anambra was submerged; in Jigawa, 91 lives were lost; and in Niger State, even the dead were not spared, as 1,500 corpses were swept away from a cemetery in Mariga. Nationwide, the floods claimed 603 lives, displaced 1.4 million people, and destroyed or damaged over 200,000 homes across 570,000 hectares of land. According to government data reported by the BBC, Bayelsa saw 257,913 people affected, 219,417 displaced, 58 fatalities, and 81 injured, with 26,509 houses damaged and 703 farms submerged. In Jigawa, 166,076 people were affected, 68,883 displaced, 91 lives lost, 148 injured, with 1,564 houses damaged and 3,849 farms destroyed. While Jigawa experienced more casualties and agricultural losses, Bayelsa suffered more in terms of physical impact, with communities still using canoes to navigate through the floodwaters. Both states are undeniably in crisis, making the controversy over which was more affected unnecessary and counterproductive.

Instead of fueling such divisive debates, there should be a coordinated national emergency response that transcends politics. This response must be tailored to address region-specific and state-specific needs to account for local particularities. Such an effort requires collaboration between all tiers of government, communities, and aid organizations.

Experts have pointed out that coastal states like Lagos, Rivers, and Bayelsa, along with other estuarine states in the Niger Delta, are more susceptible to flooding, often facing catastrophic consequences. Similarly, Kogi, which lies at the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers, is regularly at risk of severe flooding. The northern states, with their more arid landscapes, also suffer significant damage when hit by unusually heavy rainfall, as seen this year. These floods wash away farms, buildings, and personal property. Every state affected by flooding this year deserves immediate and sustained attention. Farouq’s role should be to coordinate and mobilize national relief efforts, working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure effective responses. During her eventual visit to Bayelsa, Governor Duoye Diri rightfully urged leaders to visit disaster sites promptly, enabling them to assess situations firsthand and respond more appropriately.

Unfortunately, a lack of concern for the welfare of citizens has become one of the hallmarks of the leadership under President Muhammadu Buhari (retired). His administration’s officials seem to follow his lead, often acting with a similar disregard for the well-being of affected communities. Under Buhari’s leadership, federal responses to natural disasters, such as the recent flooding, have been consistently mismanaged. Despite their dismal track record, it was still surprising to many Nigerians and the international community to see both Buhari and Farouq attending the COP 27 global climate summit in Egypt while the nation grappled with a devastating flood crisis that demanded their attention at home.

This stands in stark contrast to the swift responses and empathy shown by other world leaders during times of national disasters. For instance, after flash floods claimed 40 lives in June, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited the affected areas to personally console victims and oversee relief efforts. Similarly, Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, traveled to the flood-affected regions of Victoria and New South Wales in October and November to support victims and coordinate emergency responses. In the United States, President Joe Biden set aside other national and foreign priorities in September to visit flood-ravaged cities in the Northeast.

Buhari rarely demonstrates such leadership, frequently traveling abroad for even minor engagements or remaining in Abuja while his aides issue lackluster statements when disaster strikes in Nigeria.

Nigerian governments at all levels—federal, state, and local—must take their responsibilities more seriously. Holding public office is about serving the people, showing empathy, and providing tangible support during crises. Governments should expedite efforts to help displaced individuals return to their homes and rebuild their livelihoods as quickly as possible. Although floods are often unavoidable due to climate change, heavy rains, swelling rivers, and overflowing reservoirs, responsible governments prepare for such eventualities. Repeated warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency did little to provoke a proactive response from Nigeria’s federal and state governments, unlike in other nations. Countries like Indonesia, which are prone to flooding due to their geography, have implemented adaptive flood control measures, such as building reservoirs, installing water pumps, maintaining canals, and constructing protective infrastructure.

Nigeria must adopt a similar approach. The World Economic Forum’s Climate Action Platform reports that despite early rainfall warnings and knowledge of the impending release of excess water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam in September, Nigeria has repeatedly failed to construct a buffer dam. At the same time, state governments have not adequately prepared for the floods that occur almost annually.

With food shortages looming, poverty rampant, and insecurity increasing, Buhari must activate a national emergency flood management plan. State governments must also develop and implement immediate relief strategies to address flooding and other natural disasters.