The Federal Government on Tuesday raised concerns that 1,049 communities in 176 local government councils across the country and Abuja, remain in high flood risk areas, warning Nigerians of the potential of disasters in the coming months.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev who briefed journalists in Abuja said 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 State among others.
The latest recent flood disaster in Mokwa market town in Niger State, described as the most devastating in the north-central region in six decades followed torrential rains that began around May 29, 2025.
NewsQuest reports that the flood was caused by intense rainfall and possibly exacerbated by issues such as dam management upstream and inadequate drainage systems.
According to a statement by the Personal Assistant on media and publicity to the Minister, Terhemen Oraduen, Professor Utsev declared that the flood incident in the Mokwa community where several lives were lost with properties destroyed.
Minister Utsev who gave reference to the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook AFO release in April, confirmed that the recent flooding that ravaged the Mokwo was caused by heavy rainfall due to extreme weather conditions occasioned by climate change which overwhelmed local drainage systems in the area.
According to Professor Utsev, the unregulated structures also blocked an ephemeral tributary of River Dingi, a regressive river and tributary of River Niger, which remains dry all year round with flows solely dependent on surface runoff from rainfall.
He dismissed insinuations about a possible release of water from Kainji and Jebba dams emphasizing that both dams were safe and intact.
The Minister said a Technical Team from his Ministry including the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority has been despatched to the Mokwa community to carry out an assignment of the incident to come out with an appropriate report, expressed condolences to the government and the good people of Niger State especially families of the bereaved over the unfortunate incident.
Minister Utsev called on States and Local governments to construct more drainage channels,de-silt all blocked drains and waterways to allow free flow of water, engage in sustained public awareness, relocate communities residing on flood plains to safer grounds, and ensure strict compliance with the urban development master plan to mitigate the impact of impending flood in the country.
Experts believe that the challenge of annual flooding in Nigeria is driven mainly by a combination of human factors and climate change with issues such as poor urban planning, inadequate drainage systems, and insufficient flood control infrastructure, leaving many communities vulnerable to floods.
