The Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s Director-General, Mansur Matazu, estimates that the country’s GDP has dropped by $4.6 billion due to the flooding.
Matazu made the announcement at a workshop held by NIMET and HEDA on expanding access to climate information services for national development and food security in Nigeria.
He referenced a World Bank Survey paid for by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, explaining that the study was based on a quick estimate of the costs associated with repairing the damage that will be done by the floods in 2022 to people’s homes, farms, and other infrastructure.
He said that the country was making progress in its recovery from the tragedy, and that measures were being taken to prevent flooding in the future, which would benefit the agricultural sector and contribute to Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to ensure food security.
He stated, “The damage the flood has caused in the form of livelihood, farmland, and infrastructure- it has cost the country over $4.6 billion, and that is a significant weight on our GDP.”
