At Dantata Bridge in coastal Kogi State, tons of food and fuel stretch for many kilometers, far from their destinations, as the impact of Nigeria's worst flooding in 10 years unfolds.
The bridge is a link line that allows the crisscross of essentials between northern and southern Nigeria, including Abuja, the capital. But weeks of severe flooding in Kogi State have washed away farmland and affected access roads, including Dantata Bridge."We are struggling to get the fuel," said Usman, who works as a petrol dealer."As you can see from the queue, there's no fuel. It's only one filling station in the whole area that sells fuel."They blame the flooding on torrential rainfalls that started in July and the release of water from Cameroon's Lagdo Dam.
Halima Sani arrived at this makeshift camp in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, about one month ago with her eight children. She says food is a major problem. "Before the flood came, my husband and I were farmers. We used to feed on our farm produce," she said."We were about to harvest when the flood came and destroyed everything. We were not able to harvest a single crop, and our house is underwater. That's why we came here for shelter. I struggle to find something to eat with my children.