At least 49 people have been killed and thousands displaced in Nigeria following heavy rains that have caused flooding in the northeastern part of the country, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Three states in northeastern Nigeria—Jigawa, Adamawa, and Taraba—have been severely impacted by the floods, leaving 41,344 individuals homeless, reported NEMA spokesperson Manzo Ezekiel.

In 2022, Nigeria experienced its worst flooding in more than a decade, which resulted in over 600 fatalities, displaced around 1.4 million people, and destroyed 440,000 hectares (approximately 1.1 million acres) of farmland. “We are currently entering the peak season, especially in the northern part of the country, and the situation is very serious,” Ezekiel told Reuters.

The flooding has also devastated agricultural landscapes, affecting around 693 hectares (1,712 acres) of arable land. Nigeria is currently grappling with double-digit inflation that has been exacerbated by high food prices. The heavy rains have further complicated conditions in the agricultural sector, where many farmers are abandoning their fields in northeastern Nigeria due to recurrent attacks from armed groups.

Many officials are concerned and are preparing for further destruction, as the rainy season has yet to reach its peak. “We have September and October ahead of us. The rain is much heavier in September than in August, so only God knows what the situation will be when we get to that time,” said Haruna Mairiga from the Jigawa Emergency Management Agency.

According to Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris, who is reporting from Nigeria, the government has stated that 110 kilometers (68 miles) of dikes have been constructed, but the flooding continues to claim lives and property, diverting scarce government resources intended for development. This year, the government announced that 31 out of the country’s 36 states are at risk of experiencing “high flooding.”

“We also have information about high water levels in the upper parts of the Niger River before it reaches Nigeria,” said Ezekiel. “All these flows are moving toward Nigeria. We are beginning to see manifestations of our predictions.”