FG WARNS: 1,249 COMMUNITIES ACROSS 30 STATE, FCT AT RISK OF FLOODING
The Federal Government has sounded an alarm over looming floods in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), warning that 1,249 communities face serious risk—similar to the recent disaster in Mokwa, Niger State, where over 200 lives were lost.
Thousands have been displaced following the destruction of homes, with more than 500 people still missing.
States identified as high-risk 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 press briefing in Abuja, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, clarified that the devastating Mokwa flood was not a result of water released from the Kainji or Jebba dams—which remain intact—but was caused by intense rainfall worsened by climate change.
He attributed the high number of casualties to residents’ failure to heed early flood warnings and urged state governments to implement immediate preventive measures.
“The Ministry extends heartfelt condolences to the people of Niger State, especially the affected communities in Mokwa,” the minister stated. “We commend the swift response by the state government, local authorities, and emergency teams working to support victims.”
Engr. Utsev explained that the heavy rains overwhelmed local drainage systems, while unregulated building activities obstructed a tributary of River Dingi—typically dry except during rainfall—worsening the flood's impact.
He also recalled that the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), released on April 10 by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), had already identified 19 local government areas in Niger State, including Mokwa, as high-risk zones.
According to the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the high-risk states include:
Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
