Death toll from Nigeria's floods hits 108

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

toll from Nigeria's floods has risen to 108, the country’s official relief agency said on Monday.

In a statement, the National Emergency Management Agency said 441,251 people were affected in 50 municipalities.

The agency said 141,369 people were displaced by the floods that have affected 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states.

Last week, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari had declared the flooding a national disaster and ordered the agency to cater to the victims -- a declaration followed by a tour of the affected areas by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

About 13,031 houses were damaged as a result of the floods, while 122,653 hectares of farmland were destroyed, Sani Datti, the agency’s spokesman said.

The agency said it needs $33.7 million to provide relief materials to the victims but it has only $8.3 million, resulting in a shortfall of $25.4 million of the amount needed to confront the crisis.

Nigeria last experienced floods of this magnitude in 2012 when dozens of people were killed and properties worth nearly a billion dollars were destroyed.