The recently implemented World Bank Global Rapid Post Disaster Assessment Damage Estimation technology report on the 2022 flood that devastated all 36 Federation states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) indicated that Nigeria lost an estimated $6,681k million as direct damages registered between June and November 2022.
Speaking during a press conference at the public launch of the report in Abuja on Friday, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq applauded the prompt intervention of the current administration to alleviate the suffering of victims a through the provisions of 12MT of grains, as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the report, the flood affected residential buildings, non-residential buildings, agriculture and infrastructure in all six geopolitical zones of the Federation.
She said: “The GRADE score is a rapid first-order approximation of economic impact and provides a high-level rapid estimate of damages used to inform ongoing decisions in a timely manner. It was developed using the empirical data defined in this document, calibrated against historical data and experience, including the 2012 Nigerian Floods PDNA (Post Disaster Needs Assessment). November 2022.”
According to the key findings of the GRADE report, all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were affected by the 2022 flood in Nigeria, with varying degrees of damage and people affected.
He revealed that the most affected states are: Jigawa, Rivers, Taraba, Cross River, Delta State and Bayelsa.
“This analysis estimates that total direct economic damages, based on currently reported statistics as of November 25, are in the range of $3.79 billion to $9.12 billion, with the best (median) estimate at $6.68 billion.
“This includes damage to residential and non-residential buildings (including building contents), as well as to infrastructure, productive sectors, and farmland,” he noted.
The Minister explained that the number of affected people exceeded 4.9 million (representing 2% of Nigeria’s population) as of November 25, 2022.
According to the Minister, the damaged building count in most affected states continues, while significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, irrigation and river infrastructure, as well as WASH and electricity infrastructure, amounts to about $1.23 billion ($0.959 – $1.724 billion). ) in expected damage.
Umar Farouq called on the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) to use the GRADE assessment to plan recovery and rehabilitation for flood victims, as well as MDAs responding in the federal, state and local governments to also use the report to improve the plight of the victims of the 2022 flood.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani-Manzo, applauded the Minister for approving to request the support of the World Bank at the peak of the floods in 2022 to help us in the assessment because knowing full well that any disaster requires a minimum of six months.
Hence the determination to opt for the Post-Disaster Rapid Comprehensive Assessment Damage Estimation Report.
He pointed out that: “with the affected population and the damaged and destroyed houses. The situation could only be compared to 2012 in a few localized areas across the country.
“The ministry and NEMA sought a preliminary quantitative and spatial damage assessment from the World Bank and considering that the technology that was used, which was Grade, is considered faster than the traditional Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNS), and it is very, very successful”, pointed out the Permanent Secretary.
He noted that the World Bank delivered the report in November 2022 while the Ministry, through NEMA, began to implement some of the urgent findings and recommendations and embarked on consultations.
He confirmed that the World Bank kindly agreed to the Ministry’s request.
