The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has issued a sobering warning about the devastating impact of recent floods in Nigeria, which have destroyed crops that could have sustained 8.5 million people for six months. According to FAO estimates, approximately 856,000 tons of crops have been wiped out, based on an average yield of 1.5 tons per hectare on waterlogged farmlands.
In a response to questions on Wednesday, the FAO revealed that Nigerian farmers were anticipating a bumper harvest this year. However, the persistent rainfall inundated land that had been planted with vital crops such as groundnuts, vegetables, and rice. The floods, described as unprecedented in some areas, have also drowned livestock, ranging from chickens to cattle, further compounding the country’s food security crisis.
FAO officials stressed that the heavy rains have exacerbated an already critical food security situation in Nigeria, where almost half of the country’s 200 million population lives in abject poverty. The organization noted that food prices were already skyrocketing before the flooding, with inflation rates climbing to 37% annually. The floods, which are the worst in recent memory, have pushed prices even higher, making basic food items increasingly inaccessible to vulnerable communities.
The floods have not only destroyed farmland but have also disrupted key agricultural infrastructure. FAO reported that market enclosures were torn apart by the rushing waters, allowing animals to escape, while storage facilities for fodder and machinery were ruined. This has left farmers struggling to salvage what they can while battling against further losses.
In addition to the immediate devastation, there are warnings that the worst may be yet to come. The FAO’s report highlighted that eleven states along the Benue River face an imminent risk of further flooding due to the release of water from the swollen Lagdo Dam in neighboring Cameroon. The discharge is expected to exacerbate conditions in already flooded areas, putting more crops and livestock at risk.
Quantifying the full scale of the loss has proven difficult, FAO officials said, as many areas remain submerged, and the damage is still being assessed. However, early indicators suggest that the impact of the flooding could take years to recover from, especially as Nigeria is already grappling with food insecurity and a struggling economy.
As the floodwaters continue to rise, the FAO has urged the Nigerian government and international partners to increase support for farmers and affected communities. Immediate relief efforts, including food aid, agricultural inputs, and support for rebuilding damaged infrastructure, are seen as critical to preventing a full-blown food crisis.
With further rainfall predicted in the coming weeks and months, experts warn that the nation must prepare for the possibility of prolonged hardship. The FAO’s call to action underscores the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by climate change and extreme weather events, which are increasingly threatening Nigeria’s agricultural sector and overall food supply.
