By Yawale Adamu
For Bello Musa, a 37-year-old resident of Mangari bypass in Misau, the rainy season brings not joy but dread. His home’s proximity to Rafin Arewa subjects his family to the constant threat of flooding. Unlike others who welcome the rain for agricultural benefits, Bello faces each downpour with unease, knowing that his home could be inundated at any moment. “Rain anywhere spells danger for us, leaving us to sleep with one eye open, bracing for the next flood,” he explained.
The community along the Mangari bypass, also known as Rafin Arewa, in Misau Local Government Area, Bauchi State, has long battled the encroachment of floodwaters into their homes. This relentless challenge has led to significant losses, with residents often losing not just the stability of their homes but also their possessions.
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In response to the urgent need for erosion control in Rafin Arewa Misau, the federal government, via the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, initiated a project aimed at mitigating the flooding. Despite this intervention, progress has been minimal, and the community continues to face the repercussions of uncontrolled water flow.
From 2020 to 2021, a total of N25.8 million was allocated to this cause, distributed among two contractors. Over-One Consult and Investment Limited received over N8.5 million in 2020 and an additional N11 million in 2021 for the project. Dangarko Nigeria Limited was also contracted, receiving N6.3 million in 2021 to address the same issue.
Yet, despite the significant investment of public funds into these projects, the efforts to curb the erosion problem have fallen short. The work conducted has been insufficient, leaving the residents of Rafin Arewa, many of whom are dependent on farming and herding for their livelihoods, to continue bearing the brunt of the flood’s devastation.
Year after year, the town of Misau has been ravaged by devastating floods, resulting in the destruction of numerous homes, the submergence of agricultural lands, and the tragic loss of lives since 2015.
According to the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (BASEMA), the floods in 2022 claimed the lives of at least 29 individuals and impacted 2,934 others across the state, with Misau identified as one of the most severely affected locales.
Despite the dire circumstances faced by the residents and the allocation of funds intended to alleviate their plight, the much-anticipated erosion control project has yet to materialize, leaving the community in a state of unrelieved vulnerability
Amid the relentless flooding, residents living near the water’s edge have expressed their desperation to relocate, hindered only by their financial circumstances. “If only I had the financial means to purchase a new home or a plot of land elsewhere, I would have left this area. However, lacking any alternative, I am bound to stay here, hoping for divine intervention,” Bello remarked.
It is understood that there is a pervasive sense of fear among the community members, particularly during the night, as the risk of sudden flooding remains high. Residents reported that during the rainy season, they make it a point to stay indoors immediately after the Isha prayer, the last prayer of the day, due to the unpredictability of the floods. “Venturing out at night is a risk we cannot afford, for fear of being caught in a flood or the potential damage to our homes in our absence. Our reprieve comes only with the arrival of the dry season. The floodwaters, not always originating from Misau but from various sources, make our situation precarious. Even now, two months after the rains have ceased, navigating our area remains a challenge,” shared Usman, echoing the community’s distress.
Remains of the flooded sand
Usman shared that the sight of contractors measuring the area initially filled the community with hope, as they believed their struggles with flooding were finally coming to an end. However, this optimism was short-lived as they faced yet another year of hardship in 2023.
“My home lacks basic amenities; the toilet has collapsed, and the kitchen along with my children’s room are damaged beyond my financial capability to repair, not to mention the toilet which requires a significant amount of money to fix. The moment we saw construction efforts aimed at containing the flood, we thought relief had arrived. Yet, that hope turned into despair as the project was abruptly abandoned, leaving us in constant fear,” he recounted.
Usman expressed his frustration over the halted project, emphasizing the critical need for its completion to protect their lives and alleviate the constant fear experienced during the rainy season.
In response to the lack of effective flood and erosion control measures, the residents of Mangari bypass have taken matters into their own hands by planting trees, locally referred to as ‘kashe kwari’. This initiative has proven to be a successful strategy in mitigating the impact of floods in their community, significantly reducing water intrusion into their homes and farmlands this year in the areas where it was implemented.
“The recurring floods have heightened our vigilance. We’re all too aware of the potential devastation that could occur if the waters breach our defenses again,” Usman explained, highlighting the community’s proactive approach to protecting their environment amidst ongoing challenges.
Local efforts made by residents
For the farmers residing in this region, daily life is overshadowed by the fear of losing their farmlands to the relentless advance of water and erosion. Their farms are not just plots of land but their sole source of sustenance and food.
Echoing Bello’s sentiments, Manu Umar highlights the grim reality they face and pleads for governmental intervention. “The sight of gathering clouds fills us with dread, knowing that our sleep will be disturbed until the rain ceases. Our survival is a testament to divine intervention, as floodwaters often rise to knee level during the night, threatening the very integrity of our homes.
“Our community, primarily composed of peasant farmers, now watches helplessly as even the roads are ravaged, leaving us isolated for two years. The rain forces us to remain vigilant, with many homes destroyed and families left destitute. The threat of flooding persists at night, often originating from areas beyond Misau, adding to our woes,” Manu explains.
The previous year witnessed the flooding severing the crucial Mangari bypass road, which connects the community to Misau and essential marketplaces. Despite the glaring need for action, the absence of any remedial efforts by the responsible authorities has left the damage unrepaired. This year, another round of flooding has further exacerbated the plight of the residents, deepening their struggles and isolation.
Damaged portion of Mangari bye-pass Misau
Data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) of Nigeria show that Bauchi State saw a significant displacement of thousands in 2022 and continued displacement during the rainy season of 2023 due to floods.
The persistent flooding in Bauchi State has been linked to several causes, including erratic and severe rainfall patterns exacerbated by climate change, rivers breaching their banks, poor urban planning, inadequate waste and water resource management, lack of effective drainage systems, deforestation, and the practice of disposing of garbage into water bodies.
An investigation by Hama Media, referencing a UNICEF report on Nigeria’s floods in 2022, indicated that approximately 2.5 million people required aid, with many communities left underwater. Among those affected, 1.5 million were children, facing heightened risks of diseases, drowning, and malnutrition.
Furthermore, Action Aid highlighted the particular vulnerability of women and girls during floods, subjecting them to increased risks of violence, forced child marriage, educational disruptions, and livelihood losses. Pregnant women, in particular, encountered dire situations due to restricted access to medical services.
Adamu Nayola, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at Bauchi SEMA, shared with Hama Media that in emergencies, women, children, and the elderly bear the brunt of the crisis. Although detailed statistics were not provided, he stressed their profound hardships and the critical need for targeted support in times of disaster.
The end of the project supposedly done by contractors.
Supervising Agency Yet to Respond to Inquiry
The firms tasked with the intervention project, Over-One Consult & Investment Limited and Dangarko Nigeria Limited, have chosen not to comment on the project’s specifics.
Nonetheless, certain staff members from these companies confidentially informed Xchange Hama Media that the scope and quality of their work on-site were commensurate with the funding received.
The Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, responsible for overseeing the project, has not yet replied to the Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent via the email address listed on its official website.
This publication is produced with support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (CMEDIA) funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
