Nigeria Floods 2022
Two maps showing the effects of floods per local government area (LGA)
In the summer and fall of 2022, Nigeria was struck with a devastating series of floods, the worst seen since 2012.
More than 4.4 million people were affected by floods in Nigeria in 2022. More than 2.4 million of them were displaced from their homes.
People displaced by 2022 floods in Nigeria
More than 660 lives were lost.
64 people died when flooding contaminated water sources, causing a cholera outbreak. 76 people drowned in a capsized boat while fleeing the floods.
676,000 hectares of farmland were damaged.
The floods hit during harvest season. Crops and livestock were lost in a nation already experiencing food insecurity.
More than 174,000 homes were made unlivable.
Change in a section of the Niger River between June 12 and October 2, 2022.
Most areas of Nigeria were affected. Some were hit repeatedly by multiple floods.
Number of floods, Nigeria 2022
The floods were caused by heavy rains and climate change, and were made worse by the perennial release of water from several dams, in particular the Lagdo dam in neighboring Cameroon.
Nigeria expects to see more severe flooding in future years due to climate change, and must devise methods of preparation and warning to reduce the effects of future floods.