The Federal Government has attributed the devastating floods in Mokwa, Niger State, to extreme weather caused by climate change, poor drainage systems, and unregulated construction activities.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, addressed the disaster on Tuesday at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, stating that the flooding was not due to dam failure, but rather the result of exceptionally heavy rainfall.
“Contrary to speculation, no dams collapsed. The floods were triggered by climate-induced downpours combined with weak infrastructure and unregulated development,” Utsev explained.
He confirmed that technical experts from the ministry and relevant agencies are currently in Mokwa conducting assessments and exploring long-term mitigation strategies.
The Minister called on state governments and stakeholders to act on early warning systems and take proactive measures to prevent such disasters in the future.
Mokwa, a critical transit hub between southern traders and northern food producers, has been severely affected. More than 200 bodies have been recovered so far, and thousands have been displaced, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.
What you should know
The Mokwa flood, which claimed over 200 lives, was not caused by dam collapse, according to the government.
Instead, it was the result of extreme rainfall linked to climate change, along with poor urban planning and drainage. The government urges better flood prevention measures to avoid future disasters.
