In the village of Ogba-Ojibo, nestled at the meeting point of Nigeria’s two mighty rivers, the Niger and Benue, Ako Prince Omali, 27, meticulously counts the steps leading down to the river’s edge. These steps, carved from the dirt, serve as a daily reminder of the community’s vulnerability. Normally, seven steps lead to the river, but after a recent heavy downpour, only four remain visible the rest swallowed by a surge that raised water levels by five meters overnight.
Omali, a subsistence farmer, has been closely monitoring the river for weeks. His one-hectare farm, a lifeline for his family, is submerged a plight shared by many in Kogi State, where flooding affects millions annually. For decades, villagers like Omali have endured the destruction wrought by seasonal floods. Yet, this year’s challenges are compounded by the collapse of a dam in Borno State, displacing a million people, with many more at risk.
For Ogba-Ojibo’s 300 households, flooding disrupts life for three months every year, washing away homes, crops, and hope. Omali recalls 2012 as a turning point when floods became “disastrous.” His family’s bamboo hut, along with their rice and yam fields, now succumbs to rising waters every autumn. Displacement to higher ground in Idah offers little solace, with makeshift shelters, halted schooling, and scarce food compounding the hardship.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged in June when Omali attended a community meeting hosted by GiveDirectly, a U.S.-based nonprofit. This meeting introduced a groundbreaking initiative that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to anticipate floods and provide proactive financial aid. Unlike traditional aid focused on post-disaster relief, this program equips vulnerable communities with funds before floods strike. Families can stockpile essentials, secure their homes, or prepare in ways that suit their unique needs.
AI’s Role in Flood Preparedness
The program employs AI tools like Google’s SKAI disaster detection model and Flood Hub to predict and monitor flood risks. These technologies analyze satellite imagery, river gauge data, and weather forecasts, enabling precision targeting of areas most at risk. This preemptive approach addresses a critical gap: the delay in post-disaster relief that often leaves communities in limbo.
“Early warnings without early actions are a missed opportunity,” says Alex Diaz, head of Google.org’s AI for Social Good. He emphasizes that anticipatory strategies can save lives and significantly reduce recovery costs. In fact, every dollar invested in disaster preparedness saves up to $15 in post-disaster recovery.
For Omali and others in Ogba-Ojibo, the program is already making an impact. Using simple mobile phones, recipients register via SMS, undergo verification, and receive direct cash transfers. This flood season alone, 4,500 individuals in Kogi State are expected to benefit. With these funds, families can secure food, reinforce their homes, and adapt to the impending deluge.
A Sustainable Future
The stakes are high as climate change exacerbates flooding across Nigeria. Dan Quinn of GiveDirectly warns that floods are becoming more intense and unpredictable, necessitating innovative solutions like AI-driven anticipatory actions. Beyond financial aid, investments in flood-resistant infrastructure, climate-resilient agriculture, and community education are crucial for long-term resilience.
Omali dreams of a future where his family no longer flees their home every autumn. For now, programs like GiveDirectly’s, powered by AI, offer a lifeline. As the Niger’s waters rise once again, hope flows alongside them a hope rooted in technology, foresight, and the resilience of communities determined to adapt and survive.
