Flood kills 1,400 birds, destroys mill in Enwan as Edo remains on NIHSA’s flood list.

Flood kills 1,400 birds, destroys mill in Enwan as Edo remains on NIHSA’s flood list.

Floodwater from the overflowing Ojirami Dam killed 1,400 birds, wrecked a palm oil mill and cut residents of Enwan, in Akoko Edo, off from their farms, shops and schools. It came days after federal agencies again listed Edo among states at risk of flooding.

Livelihoods Lost in Enwan

Poultry farmer Monday John said the rain started at about 6am, and he woke up to find floodwater over his premises. He stated that the flood killed 1,400 of his birds and left him with huge losses, calling it the destruction of his main source of livelihood. He appealed to the government for help.

In another location, Chief John Omaze said floodwater entered his house and destroyed his palm oil mill. He said many farmers could not reach their farms and pupils could not go to school.

Wider Impact on Traders, Farmers and Households

Traders also took a hit. Osasu Kelly said the flood destroyed his business, and Anayor Amos appealed for government help over his own losses, Business Day reported. A flooded shop loses trading days and customers, and the owner then pays to repair it, replace equipment and move goods.

Edosa Unity Henry, a youth leader of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria in Edo, said the damage spreads to farming families because harvest income pays for household needs, including school fees. “When the harvest is destroyed, we are left struggling financially,” he said. Smaller harvests also push up food prices, which hits traders and consumers.

For households, repeated floods mean repeated spending on furniture, appliances and buildings. Transport operators face damaged vehicles and delays on flooded roads. The government also has to pay for emergency response, evacuation, road repairs and relief.

What The State Says

The Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EDOSEMA) says the immediate danger has passed. Its executive secretary, Jerry Idahosa, said the cracked, overflowing section of the dam had been repaired and the Edo Central IDP camp had been refurbished in case of further emergencies.

Flood Alerts Issued for Edo in 2026

Edo had been flagged repeatedly this year. In April, the Federal Government’s 2026 Annual Flood Outlook placed Edo on its high flood alert list alongside 32 other states. The outlook expected the worst of the season between July and September.

In July, NIHSA listed Edo among 17 states at medium flood risk and recommended relocating residents, livestock and valuables from floodplains.

On September 19, the agency warned of high riverine flood risk in 15 states from September 19 to 25. Edo was among the states facing severe flood risks. The National Emergency Management Agency then activated its zonal directorates and operations offices across the affected states.

NIHSA’s advisories centred on river flooding, and none that I found named Ojirami Dam. Even so, Enwan’s flood arrived inside the period the agency had flagged.

Continued Flood Risk

The season isn’t finished. The Annual Flood Outlook projected that 11,575 communities in 224 local government areas would still face high flood risk in October and November. NIHSA issued another advisory covering 17 states from September 28 to October 4.

Edo’s river communities have lived this before. In 2022, 12 communities, mostly in Etsako Central, were submerged when the River Niger overflowed. In 2024, at least 25 communities along the Niger were submerged. In Illushi this month, traditional ruler Christopher Ike Ikebodi said three-quarters of the community had been submerged and asked the federal and state governments for a safe place to relocate residents.

With the season still running and more advisories likely, Edo’s communities are not yet out of reach of the water. Federal projections show high flood risk persisting into October and November.