A FINAL comprehensive assessment of total losses resulting from the 2012 flooding which ravaged many states of the federation has shown that Nigeria lost a total of N2.6 trillion.

Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Muhammed Sani Sidi, made this known while addressing the 4th Global Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland, weekend.

The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is the the world’s foremost gathering of stakeholders committed to reducing disaster risk and building the resilience of communities and nations.

Sani Sidi said: “The comprehensive Post Disaster Needs Assessment conducted from November 2012 – March 2013 with the support of the World Bank and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), United Nations, Development partners and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies put the estimated total value of infrastructure, physical and durable assets destroyed at US$9.6 billion.

The total value of losses across all sectors of economic activity was estimated at US$7.3 billion. The combined value of these damages and losses was US$16.9 billion.”

He described 2012 as one of the most challenging for Nigeria in recent history with the unprecedented flood that ravaged several states of the country, affected over seven million people, displaced 2.3 million people, killed over 363 persons and destroyed or damaged about 597,476 houses.

According to him, Nigeria as a country believes that it has the responsibility to increase the tempo of activities in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and enlist the support of every one in confronting the hazards risk in the country especially with the consequences of climate change and global warming steering everyone in the face.”