The Nigerian Government has developed a Global Rapid Post Disaster Assessment Damage Estimation, GRADE.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq announced the GRADE note in Abuja, Nigeria.
She said the tool was developed by the World Bank’s Disaster-Resilience Analytics and Solutions team, to assess the quantum of residential and non residential damage caused by the 2022 flooding across the country.
According to her, “all the States of the Federation are affected by varying degrees of the 2022 June to November floodings.”
Poor drainage
The Minister noted that poor urbanisation, lack of proper drainage system amongst others were responsible for the flooding.
Farouq emphasised that the assessment tool also gives a sectoral and State-by-State effect that is critical for planning.
She further stated that “it becomes a vital tool to understanding the effects of the flood on people, their coping capacity and the most vulnerable groups.
“It can also be used to identify the most urgent recovery needs and the best methods of the reconstruction of critical sector/infrastructure.”
She said; “This analysis estimates that the total direct economic damages, based on currently reported statistics as of November 25th are in the range of US$3.79 billion to US$9.12 billion with the best (median) estimate at US$6.68 billion. This includes damages to residential and non-residential buildings (incl. building contents), as well as damages to infrastructure, productive sectors and to cropland.
“Estimated median damages are thus generally lower than the 2012 assessment (PDNA), but some localized areas may have experienced greater impacts than in 2012, and past seasons such as 2018.
“The number of persons affected has risen over the season since June up to between 4.4 million and 4.9 million affected people as of November 25th (around 2% of the country’s population).”
The Minister said; “In terms of destroyed and damaged buildings, there is significant damage in many states, with counting still ongoing.
There is significant damage to infrastructure including roads, irrigation and river infrastructure as well as WASH and electricity infrastructure with around $1.23 billion ($0.959-$1.724 billion) in damage expected.”
“Damage to agriculture crops, associated water infrastructure, fisheries and livestock was also severe.
“Worse affected States are Jigawa, Rivers, Taraba, Cross River, and Delta. Well, over 650,000 hectares of crops have been reportedly damaged, with modelling and other reports suggesting this is expected to increase past 1,000,000 hectares damaged or destroyed. The median estimate of these damages is around $1.837 billion with a significant range ($526 million – $2.473 billion) given changing yields, damage ratios, replanting possibilities, and uncertainties in market values of crops, livestock, and fisheries,” Farouq explained.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo said that the GRADE note was faster than a traditional Post Disaster Needs Assessment and accurate.
He said; “The GRADE approach was the collaboration of many stakeholders including NIMET, NARDA, NIHSA, NSCDC and the GRADE assessment was conducted between Nov 14-28, 2022 after the flood water had receded in most parts in the country from June to November 2022.
“The World Bank delivered the Grade Report on time in November 2022 and the Ministry through NEMA has started implementing some of the findings of the report.”
All responding Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government especially the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons are enjoined to utilise the assessment note to plan the recovery of victims of flood disaster in the country.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
