Locust swarm reaches Nigeria

ONE of the worst locust infestations to hit West Africa in 15 years has reached northern Nigeria, where authorities are battling the swarms with insecticide sprayed from crop-dusting airplanes.

The swarms moving in from North Africa have begun to invade the northwestern Nigerian states of Sokoto and Zamfara, threatening the livelihoods of subsistence farmers.

“We have started spraying insecticides to curb the menace. We leased an aircraft for this purpose,” said Sokoto state spokesman Mustapha Shehu.

“But I’m afraid unless we get help and co-operation from our neighbours in Kebbi, Zamfara and also Niger Republic it will be a difficult task.”

The insects have already caused serious crop damage in Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Chad and are heading toward Sudan’s warring Darfur region, where fighting has driven one million people from their homes, according to UN figures.

The UN has said the insects were settling at a rate of 200,000 locusts per acre.

Blankets of the insects have been covering houses, cars and roads throughout West Africa, where many people survive on food from small, hand-tilled plots.