2022 Bayelsa State floods

Major floods in Nigeria in 2022

2022 Bayelsa State FloodingDate| September to November 2022

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Location| Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Cause| Release of water from Lagbo Dam in Cameroun and Long-term rainfall leading to flash floods and river overflowing
Property damage| 300 communities underwater and 1.3 million people displaced
Flood in Bayelsa

The 2022 Bayelsa State Flooding took place between September and November 2022 in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. It displaced at least 1.3 million people as confirmed by the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency.[1]

## Causes

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Release of water from Lagbo Dam in Northern Cameroun to avoid bursting and overstretching of the dam and its surroundings was one of the main cause of the flood. Also the consistent weeks of rainfall led to flash floods, discharges and overflowing of rivers in the state which led to submerging of farmlands and residential living areas.[2][3][4]

The governor, Douye Diri accused the federal government of negligence during the floods after the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq said that the state was not one of the worst hit.[5]

This claim was countered by the governor and the united nations who described the state flood as one of the worst hit and needing urgent attention.[6]

## Effects on climate change

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The flood affected the major East West road and the Patani axis in Delta State leading to closure of the road for commutants during the period of the flood. The flood was similar to the one that happened in the state in 2012 where communities were submerged in the state.[7]

Due to the massive nature of the floods and the disaster, close to 6,000 IDP camps were established in the state at Oxbow lake and at the Igbogene centre.[8][9]

## References

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1. ^ Igoni, Daniels (2022-11-10). "Humanitarian crisis looms as Bayelsa floods recede, unveil massive losses". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
2. ^ "2022 flood: A tragedy foretold, the crises within". TheCable. 2022-10-26. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
3. ^ "In Bayelsa, flood-ravaged residents groan as food, petrol prices surge". www.premiumtimesng.com. Nov 10, 2022. Archived from the original on Sep 26, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
4. ^ Opinion (2023-08-29). "Floods: The terror from Cameroon's Lagdo dam". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
5. ^ "UN: Bayelsa flood a major crisis, deserves attention". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
6. ^ "Bayelsa not among 10 most flooded states, minister replies Clark, other". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-11-04. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
7. ^ "Nigeria – Floods Displace Thousands in Bayelsa State – FloodList". floodlist.com. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
8. ^ Madowo, Nimi Princewill,Larry (2022-10-26). "Displaced by devastating floods, Nigerians are forced to use floodwater despite cholera risk". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-26.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
9. ^ "Flood of fury: No respite for Bayelsa, Kogi, Rivers, 30 others ahead of another cloudburst". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2023-09-26.