The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), through its joint team from the Ekiti Operations Office, and the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) revealed on Wednesday that 2,470 households, comprising 14,820 residents, have been displaced in Ondo State as ocean surge ravaged several riverine communities and submerged 1,820 buildings.
In a post shared on its X page on Wednesday, the agency said severe floods in Bauchi State also left multiple communities in ruins and major roads blocked.
Impact assessments conducted in both states revealed the extensive damage.
The assessment also revealed that communities have lost over 15 kilometers of shoreline due to repeated surges, leaving schools destroyed and education brought to a standstill.
During the assessment in Ondo, the team, led by SEMA officials and accompanied by local leaders including the Chairperson of the Ilaje Transition Committee, Mrs. Toyin Ogungbure, also visited the palaces of the Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro and the Oloja of Abereke.
The post read, “On August 13, 2024, the Ekiti Operations Office and Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) conducted an assessment of riverine communities in Ilaje Local Government, Ondo State, that were severely affected by ocean surges. The team met with local leaders, including
“The Chairperson of the Ilaje Transition Committee, Mrs. Toyin Ogungbure, and visited the palaces of the Ogeloyinbo of Aiyetoro and the Oloja of Abereke.
“The assessment revealed that communities such as Aiyetoro, Abereke, and others in Mahin Kingdom have been suffering from recurring ocean surges for years, resulting in the loss of over 15 km of shoreline. The recent surge submerged 1,820 buildings, displaced 2,470 households, and affected 14,820 people. Schools have been destroyed, cutting off educational activities.”
In a separate incident in Bauchi State, NEMA said it conducted a similar assessment in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) across four Local Government Areas—Shira, Giade, Jama’are, and Katagum—following a severe flood disaster.
The floods, triggered by repeated heavy downpours and the overflow of the Hadeja/Jama’are River, submerged the Bauchi-Yobe-Borno express road at Bulkachuwa, cutting off a critical route for motorists and isolating communities.
The NEMA team reported that 21 communities in Katagum Local Government Area alone have been affected, with extensive damage to homes and farmlands, and have left many residents homeless.
The statement read, “NEMA Gombe Operations Office in collaboration with SEMA Bauchi carried out an on- the-spot ssessment of flood disaster in Shira, Giade, Jama’are and Katagum LGAs of Bauchi state.
“The disaster occurred as a result of repeated heavy downpour and over flow of river Hadeja/Jama’are affecting the surrounding communities.The Bauchi – Yobe – borno express road at Bulkachuwa was totally submerged by the flooded water blocking motorist travelling along the road.
“The team also assessed the level of destruction on houses and farmlands at the affected communities.
Summary of the findings indicated that twenty one(21) communities are affected in Katagum local government area.
