Severe flooding has submerged numerous homes and facilities across five local government areas in Anambra State, as rising water levels from the River Niger and related water sources inundate flood-prone communities.
The affected areas include Anambra West, Anambra East, Ogbaru, Awka North, and Ayamelum.
Photos and videos trending on social media capture residents, including children, wading through deep floodwaters as markets, churches, schools, and other structures lie submerged.
In one video, a resident of Mmiata-Anam, Anambra West LGA, identified as Nnoru Anaekwe, shared how community members now rely on wooden canoes to navigate the waterlogged area.
Another video shows Anambra West Deputy Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Edith Ndive, commuting to her home by canoe.
Footage also captures children paddling through floodwaters around submerged school buildings, underscoring the impact on local education and daily life.
In 2023, the Mmiata-Anam community faced a tragic boat accident that claimed over 40 lives when a vessel struck a bridge due to rising water levels.
Many of the victims, predominantly women and children, were attempting to flee to safer ground.
Responding to the current crisis, Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, stated on Thursday that the state government is actively involved in relief efforts, with personnel from NEMA, SEMA, the International Organization for Migration, and the Red Cross assessing the situation at various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
“The water level has risen in the past few weeks.
The Anambra State Government Flood Management Team, alongside NEMA, SEMA, and the Red Cross, are collecting data on conditions at IDP camps,” Odimegwu said.
Odimegwu also highlighted the state’s proactive measures, such as distributing early warning updates every two days and preemptively activating 27 IDP camps to accommodate displaced residents.
“Many have moved to higher grounds with friends and family, while others have sought refuge at the camps,” he added.
The commissioner further reported that the state has received substantial food aid, including 2,400 cartons of food items donated by the Bank of Industry, and an additional supply of beans, rice, and noodles from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all earmarked for distribution in the affected local governments.
“The local government mayors are working diligently to ensure basic needs are met at the camps, with food supplies and other essentials distributed to those in need,” he noted.
While the exact number of displaced individuals is still being assessed, efforts to track and support the affected population continue.
