The Federal Government has warned that 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are currently at risk of flooding, following last Thursday’s devastating flood in Mokwa, Niger State, which claimed over 200 lives. The disaster also destroyed numerous homes and left thousands homeless, with more than 500 people reported missing.
The high-risk states include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.At a briefing in Abuja, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, clarified that the Mokwa flood was caused by heavy rainfall and not by any water release from Kainji or Jebba dams, which remain intact and safe. He attributed the high casualty rate to residents’ failure to heed flood warnings.
Urging states to implement preventive measures to avoid further destruction, Utsev expressed sympathy for the victims and praised the prompt response of the Niger State government, local authorities, and first responders. He explained that the flood resulted from extreme weather conditions linked to climate change, which overwhelmed local drainage systems. Unregulated construction had also blocked a seasonal tributary of River Dingi, exacerbating flooding risks.
The Ministry is working with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) through the annual Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) to provide early weather warnings for farmers, planners, and businesses affected by rainfall. Utsev assured that flood control efforts are being intensified to protect vulnerable states from imminent heavy rains.
