According to data from the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), no fewer than five million Nigerians have been displaced by flooding over the past decade, from 2012 to 2022. This alarming statistic comes as the Ewulu community and surrounding areas in Aniocha South Local Council of Delta State have recently been submerged by rising floodwaters.
The flooding tragedy highlights the ongoing challenges faced by residents in coastal regions, despite repeated government warnings advising them to relocate to higher ground. Many of those displaced are not registered in any Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, choosing instead to move into neighboring communities. This situation is placing additional strain on social infrastructure and could potentially escalate tensions as competition for limited resources increases.