Flood in west Africa / Nigeria (Lokoja)

The flash floods in west Africa, reported to be the worst in 50 years, have also affected Koji State in Nigeria. The state has been declared a national disaster area by the federal government, with two million people displaced by the floods and some communities submerged.

The flooding in Koji State has been reported to be at a level not seen in a hundred years and the flood waters have particularly affected Lokoja, the state capital. 

Lokoja is located at a confluence between the Niger and Benue Rivers, both of which have flooded. Thousands of people have been stranded on the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene Road, a major transportation route that accounts for 70% of the traffic between the north and south of the country. Parts of the highway have been inundated, further impeding transport. 

Further contributing to the flood waters are excess water released from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and the Shiroro and Kainji Dams in Nigeria. Construction firms have been called in to assess the situation and provide solutions.