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By Myke Agunwa
The Federal Government has hinted that about 30 more states including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are at risk of flooding, warning that residents of those areas should move to higher plains.
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, had in its 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, AFO, on April 10, 2025, predicted flooding in 19 LGAs of Niger State, including Mokwa LGA.
In 2012, Nigeria experienced its worst flood disaster in recorded history as a result of torrential rainfall, overflowing rivers, and the release of excess water from Cameroon dams.
This flood impacted 30 states, displacing over two million people and causing significant damage to infrastructure, farmlands, and homes. Among the worst-hit areas were Kogi, Benue, Niger, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, and Rivers states.
The disaster not only caused substantial economic losses estimated at over N2.6 trillion but also claimed at least 363 lives and injured thousands more.
Pointblanknews.com had reported that the death toll in the flood disaster at Mokwa town in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State last Wednesday had risen to over 200 with about 1,000 persons still missing.
The flood, which is said to be the worst in the area in 60 years, swept through the Mokwa districts of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after late night torrential rains. Several houses, farm lands, roads and bridges were also washed away, rendering thousands homeless.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, said that the flood risk states include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, and Edo.
Others are Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
He said that the flood in Mokwa was not caused by any release of water from Kainji and Jebba dams, but by heavy rainfall, heightened by the effects of climate change.
He said the high casualty figure was caused by lack of adherence by people in the state to flood warnings.
While asking states to put measures in place to stave massive flooding that could destroy lives and properties, the minister said: “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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“Additionally, unregulated building and construction activities blocked an ephemeral tributary of River Dingi, a regressive river, a tributary of River Niger, which remains dry almost all year round with flows solely dependent on surface runoff by rainfall”.
He made reference to the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (2025 AFO) report which indicated that “1,249 communities in 176 local government areas in 33 states and FCT fall within the high flood risk areas, while 2,187 communities in 293 local government areas in 31 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, fall within the moderate flood risk areas.
“The high flood risk states, according to NIHSA, are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara”.
Speaking further, the minister said: “Let me take this opportunity to re-echo the key warnings and recommendations from the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, AFO.
“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.
“The AFO provides a comprehensive overview of the flood risks beyond the LGAs to actual communities, the potential flood-prone areas, expected flood levels and recommended adaptation and mitigation measures to minimise flood impact and also highlight how communities can adopt innovative approaches to reduce vulnerability.
“Stakeholders are, therefore, advised to visit the website/dashboard at (https://nihsa.gov.ng/flood-
“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.
“Extreme weather events, including intense rainfall and river flooding, are becoming more frequent and severe across the country and globally. These events not only disrupt livelihoods but also challenge the resilience of our infrastructure and environment.
“As a ministry, we remain committed to our mandate of managing the nation’s water resources in a sustainable and climate-resilient manner.
“We call on all stakeholders, government agencies, private sector, civil society organizations, and community leaders, to work together in building safer, more resilient communities.
“Technical personnel from the ministry; Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, UNRBDA; and National Water Resources Institute, NWRI, are on ground in Mokwa taking assessments of the cause of the flood in order to come up with an appropriate report.’’
Following the alert, Pointblanknews.com learnt that some states have started taking proactive steps to prevent the Mokwa experience.
Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, said the state government is taking proactive steps to consolidate on steps taken last year.
He said: “We are consolidating on what we did last year. We are preparing to do massive de-siltation and open up the waterways across the three senatorial districts. We are working towards that seriously.
“We have an existing flood management committee; we are very proactive when it comes to flood management in Delta State. IDP camps will be established in Kwale, Bomadi, Patani, Otu-Jeremi, Ozoro and Asaba.’’
The Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control, Bayelsa State also affirmed that the state has begun opening and clearing canals to prevent flooding in the state.
Director-General of the agency, Surv Wilson Omuso, said, “We cannot eliminate flooding due to our geographic location, but we can minimise its damage through preparedness and coordinated response.”
Adding his voice is the Technical Assistant to Bayelsa State Governor on Environment, Morris Alagoa, said: “Let me first remind us again that Bayelsa State is very unique geographically as it has the most Delta features of the Niger Delta, with a greater number of the water bodies emptying into the Atlantic Ocean and having the longest stretch on the Atlantic coastline, covering three local government areas (Brass, Southern Ijaw, and Ekeremor).
“Also, the state is below sea level and more riverine. With these geographical and geological features, Bayelsa State shouldn’t ordinarily wait for any predictions from NIMET, especially when we consider what has become a global singsong — the climate change phenomenon.
“From the above premise, even though the state is not where we should be, as Bayelsa is supposed to be leading when it comes to such, some concrete steps are being taken by the Sen. Douye Diri administration to tackle flood and erosion-related matters.
In Rivers State, the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) affirmed its readiness to tackle flood emergencies in Rivers State, dousing tension raised by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, which listed Rivers as one of the flashpoints for floods.
The head of operations in Rivers/Bayelsa states, Eric Ebhodaghe, said the agency had been giving information from NiMET to all the stakeholders in the state to continue to be on red alert as flood was expected.
“We have interacted with critical stakeholders like local government officials, relevant state government agencies, security agencies, such as NSCDC, the Army, and the Red Cross, among others. The essence of such interaction is to help us evacuate victims in record time when necessary,’’ he said.
Ebhodaghe also said the agency had since procured items, such as medication, foodstuffs and other necessities that would be needed to assist potential victims of the flood, adding that NEMA had identified safe grounds for relocation of flood victims.
In Borno, the State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), and NEMA embarked on aggressive sensitisation campaign, especially in view of what the state suffered in last year’s flooding.
According to the Executive Secretary of Borno Geographic Information System, (BOGIS), Engineer Adam Bababe, the state has inaugurated a 13-man committee, saddled with the responsibility of demarcating boundaries and controlling developments along river banks and buffer zones or waterways in Maiduguri, and it’s environs with immediate effect.
He warned people to stop developing structures along waterways and buffer zones, saying 99.9% of structures/properties hitherto developed were in 2020 marked illegal since they had no government titles and approvals.
He said that state government will not pay compensation for any demolished property along waterways or buffer zones that had no legal title or approval by relevant authorities, adding that over 1,300 illegal structures or property had been marked for demolition.