Over 160 people have died in Mokwa, Niger State, due to devastating floods. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed teams across 15 high-risk states and launched community sensitisation campaigns, warning that poor drainage, climate change, and unregulated buildings continue to heighten flood risks nationwide.
- Flood in Mokwa claims over 160 lives; bodies still being recovered.
- NEMA launches advocacy in 15 high-risk states.
- FG denies dam release caused Mokwa flooding.
- Residents urged to evacuate flood-prone areas.
- Communities are blamed for ignoring early warnings.
The deadly flood that swept through Mokwa has yet again exposed the fragility of Nigeria’s infrastructure and preparedness in the face of natural disasters. Despite forecasts from NiMet and warnings from the Hydrological Services Agency, residents in high-risk gullies failed to evacuate. But the deeper issue isn’t just about rainfall, it’s about systemic urban planning failures and limited public understanding of risk.
NEMA’s boots-on-the-ground strategy is a positive step, and the agency has stepped up first aid training and emergency drills. But disaster response must now give way to disaster prevention. The FG’s defence, that no dams overflowed, shifts the conversation toward climate-linked rainfall patterns and blocked waterways due to human activity.
The Mokwa tragedy should serve as a national wake-up call. States and communities must act swiftly to implement drainage improvements, enforce zoning laws, and sensitise residents. Climate change isn’t slowing down, and neither should Nigeria’s preparedness.
