Isyaku Haruna, in Unguwan Tukura, Kontagora local government area in Niger State, sat at his business premises as he watched his workers shell the harvested maize grain from their cub and gather them into bags for packaging and storage. He is attempting to get the business running again.
The local entrepreneur who deals in the local processing of food crops and operates a block industry side by side has lost a substantial amount of his goods to the recent flood activities ravaging Africa’s biggest economy.
‘The flood water took with it over 70 bags of processed rice, destroyed moulded blocks, and washed away interlocking blocks and machines in my workshop,’ says Haruna.
Haruna traced and recovered some of his machines after the flood water rescinded. But he still lost over N6 million in equipments, products, and produce.
Not only were businesses affected, but houses and other social structures were also destroyed.
In Unguwan Yamma, another community in Kontangora, the flood washed away the council’s local cemetery. Jibril Muhammad, who lives close to the cemetery, described how it washed off the fence, the entrance to the cemetery, and the borehole that provides water for the people.
Mr Mohammad said the water washed off the fence and gate to his house and an apartment in his compound.
Early warning Signals
Dataphyte’s investigation revealed that the loss incurred by Isyaku Haruna and other businesses in Kontagora could have been minimised if they had acted on instructions from the local government council.
Alhaji Yusuf Abdullahi, the Director of Administration, Kontangora local government council, noted that warnings were issued to the people most likely to be affected, but they refused to move, even after shelter was provided.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) circulated a flood alert on the 19th of September 2022, warning residents about water discharge from the Kainji and Jeba dams in the state.
In the warning circular signed by Mal. Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, the Director General of NSEMA, informed residents of the lowland areas, including Kontagora to limit general economic activities and move to upland areas, which are safe until the events passes.
This message was circulated across various radio stations and social media platforms. Buhari Garba, a resident of Kontagora, confirmed that he heard the message on Lafara FM when it was broadcasted.
When asked, Isyaku Haruna confirmed that he also heard a similar broadcast but didn’t move as the circular requested.
Topology of Affected Area
Dataphyte’s findings showed Unguwan Tukura and Unguwan Yamma, the affected areas are in the lowlands in Kontagora, Niger State. All the water from the upland flows downward to these areas in full force.
Abdullahi, the Director of Administration at the local government council, noted that the soil texture made it impossible for water to be absorbed into the soil, which always makes water run off the surface.
Temporal Shelter Provided
The Kontagora Local Government Council, on the 1st of September, 2022, recorded its first incident of flooding. This, according to the local government’s Director of Administration, Yusuf Abdulahi, affected 237 residents in the local government.
Abdulahi said following the circular from NSEMA, the local government identified and provided a safe shelter for residents in the areas prone to flooding to relocate to. This area is located in Nassarawa, a subregion in the local government.
According to him, the people refused to move “because of their stubbornness”. They termed the provided temporary shelter a ‘bush’, and refused to leave the comfort of their homes to stay in a bush.
“At that point, we can’t force them, they made their choice, and we are here with these consequences,” Abdullahi said.
The Director admitted that the loss of properties couldn’t be controlled as they can’t be moved. But losing business goods and belongings could have been minimised if they had heeded the council’s directives.
For the people, they thought the location of the shelter was remote and undeveloped, and that is why they chose not to go there.