Abuja, June 3, 2025 — The Federal Government has urged state governments, local councils, communities, and stakeholders to intensify flood preparedness efforts across Nigeria, warning that climate-induced disasters are becoming more frequent and severe.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, made the call during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja. He appealed for swift action to strengthen infrastructure and enforce environmental regulations to mitigate the rising threat of flooding nationwide.
Addressing recent concerns about flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, the Minister firmly dismissed claims linking the incident to water releases from the Kainji or Jebba Dams. “Both dams remain structurally intact and are operating safely,” he stressed, rejecting suggestions of dam-related structural failures.
Prof. Utsev expressed deep sympathy with the people and government of Niger State over the tragic loss of lives and property in the Mokwa Local Government Area, assuring that federal support is underway.
He clarified that the Mokwa flooding resulted from heavy rainfall linked to climate change, which overwhelmed the local drainage system. The situation, he said, was worsened by unregulated construction activities that blocked a seasonal tributary of the River Dingi, leaving surrounding communities vulnerable.
The Minister noted that the flood had already been forecast in the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released in April by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). Mokwa was listed among 19 high-risk LGAs in Niger State, with over 1,200 communities nationwide identified as vulnerable to severe flooding.
According to the AFO, 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory face high flood risk this year. States like Lagos, Bayelsa, Anambra, Delta, Kogi, Rivers, and Niger were flagged as some of the most vulnerable.
Prof. Utsev disclosed that technical teams from NIHSA, the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA), and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) are currently on ground in Mokwa to assess the situation and recommend long-term solutions.
“This is a time for unity, resilience, and proactive governance,” he said, urging Nigerians to take climate warnings seriously and to utilize the NIHSA Flood Forecast Dashboard for real-time updates: https://nihsa.gov.ng/flood-forecast-dashboard.
During the briefing, Mr. Arinze Anika, a geoinformatics expert representing NIHSA’s Director General, presented a geospatial analysis identifying the root causes of the Mokwa flooding.
Also present at the event were the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah; Directors of the Ministry; and the Managing Director of the UNRBDA, Aliyu Tajudeen Abdullahi, among other key stakeholders in the water resources sector.
