Two persons have died and 18 communities have been ravaged by flooding in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Nawani Aboki, confirmed the death toll on Monday in Lafia, describing the disaster as far more severe than normal seasonal flooding.
The Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) had initially reported that more than 5,000 people were displaced across 11 affected communities. However, Aboki said a subsequent on-the-spot assessment identified seven additional communities, bringing the total number of affected communities to 18.
The commissioner did not provide a revised displacement figure for the expanded number of affected communities.
Aboki said Governor Abdullahi Sule had directed NASEMA to conduct a comprehensive assessment of all affected areas and submit a report to guide the government's response.
“The Governor sent the Executive Secretary of the humanitarian agency to visit all the communities. He is working on a report. We hope government will take concrete action this week,” Aboki said.
He added that the state government was mobilising relief materials to support flood victims and prevent potential disease outbreaks in the affected areas.
The commissioner also warned displaced residents against returning to their homes, saying the floodwaters had yet to recede and that further water releases from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon could worsen the situation.
Aboki urged residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas to heed repeated evacuation warnings issued by the state government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
He advised vulnerable residents to move to higher ground and remain in safer locations until the situation improves.