Looming ‘Catastrophic’ Flooding as Niger Dams Release Excess Water State Government Orders Urgent Relocation Relief Group Assists Flood Victims

The four major hydro-electric dams in Niger State—Shiroro, Jebba, Kainji, and Zungeru—have issued warnings over the imminent release of excess water.

According to a notification sent to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the discharge could occur at any moment.

Reacting swiftly, NSEMA alerted riverine communities to move to higher grounds to avert disaster.

NSEMA’s Director-General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, in a statement issued yesterday in Minna, revealed that the Nigerian Hydrological Services had also advised communities along Rivers Niger and Kaduna to relocate immediately.

“The dams are releasing thousands of gallons of water per minute, which could lead to overflowing of these rivers. We therefore caution communities to limit activities around riverbanks during this peak rainy season. People in flood-prone areas should move to safer locations already identified,” Arah declared.

He listed the local government areas likely to be affected as Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro, and Wushishi.

The DG further disclosed that lives had already been lost in the affected areas but did not provide specific figures.

Meanwhile, in Mokwa Local Government Area, the Mokwa Flood Relief Support Group has offered financial assistance to victims. The group presented cheques to school proprietors to sponsor 88 children displaced by flooding and also funded training for 41 widows and children in tailoring, catering, and soap making.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at Beyge Primary School, Chairman of the group, Ahmed Nasir, a retired Assistant Controller General of Customs (ACGC), said the initiative aimed to ease the hardship faced by survivors.

He noted that the floods had forced many children out of school, while widows struggled to care for their families.

The Ndalele of Mokwa, Muhammadu Shaba Aliyu, commended the group for its unwavering support, while the Head of the Hausa Community, Bala Tanko (represented by Biliyaminu Shahu), expressed gratitude for the humanitarian gesture.

On behalf of school proprietors, Suleiman Jibrin, Principal of Hakimi Aliyu Secondary School, Mokwa, promised to ensure that the sponsorship was maximized to benefit all affected pupils.