The Federal Government has issued a serious warning that 1,249 communities across 176 local government areas in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) face high risks of devastating floods in the coming weeks.
This alarm comes just days after a deadly deluge in Mokwa, Niger State, left over 200 dead, 500 missing, and thousands homeless.
This revelation came from the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, who addressed the press in Abuja on Tuesday. He clarified that contrary to widespread speculation, the Mokwa flood was not caused by any release of water from the Kainji or Jebba dams.
“I like to emphasise that the flood was not caused by water releases from either the Kainji or Jebba dams and that both dams are intact and safe,” he stated.
Utsev attributed the catastrophe to intense rainfall, worsened by climate change and human actions such as blocked tributaries and unregulated development. He said these factors overwhelmed the local drainage systems, especially around River Dingi—a seasonal tributary of River Niger.
“The flood in Mokwa town was primarily caused by heavy rainfall due to extreme weather conditions, occasioned by climate change, an emerging global phenomenon, which overwhelmed local drainage systems,” he explained.
“Additionally, unregulated building and construction activities blocked an ephemeral tributary of River Dingi… The absence of efficient alternative pathways to redirect the excess water further worsened the flood’s impact on the communities.”
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The Minister expressed sympathy with the victims, saying: “The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation extends its heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the government and the good people of Niger State, especially the affected communities in Mokwa, who have experienced losses, deaths and displacements as a result of this natural disaster.
“We commend the immediate response efforts of Niger State government, local authorities, and first responders who have been working tirelessly to provide relief and support to the victims.”
Referencing the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released in April by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Utsev confirmed that the high flood risk covers 33 states and the FCT, with another 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs categorized under moderate flood risk.
The states at highest risk 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.
Utsev warned that failure to act on the forecasts could lead to repeat disasters and urged immediate action from state governments and local authorities.
“Let me take this opportunity to re-echo the key warnings and recommendations from the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, AFO,” he said.
“We had urged and we are still urging states and local governments to act on these early warnings by strengthening drainage infrastructure; relocating vulnerable communities from flood plains; engaging in sustained public awareness campaigns; and enforcing land-use regulations to prevent encroachment into flood-prone areas.”
He stressed that the AFO dashboard provides detailed, community-specific data and guidance, urging stakeholders to access it via [https://nihsa.gov.ng/flood-forecast-dashboard](https://nihsa.gov.ng/flood-forecast-dashboard) for proactive response planning.
“This flood event, like many others in recent times, is a stark reminder of the increasing impacts of climate change on our environment and water systems,” he said.
“Extreme weather events, including intense rainfall and river flooding, are becoming more frequent and severe… These events not only disrupt livelihoods but also challenge the resilience of our infrastructure and environment.”
Utsev assured that the ministry remains committed to managing the nation’s water resources sustainably, and he called for cooperation from all sectors.
“We call on all stakeholders, government agencies, private sector, civil society organizations, and community leaders, to work together in building safer, more resilient communities.”
He added that technical personnel from the ministry, NIHSA, the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA), and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) are currently in Mokwa conducting assessments to determine appropriate mitigation strategies.
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