By Abdullahi Lukman
The last is not heard about the real cause of the May 29 flood that ravaged Mokwa, Niger State.
Separate sources earlier attributed the disaster to heavy rainfall and releases from Kainji and Jebba dams.
However, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, now clarifies that the devastating flood was a direct consequence of extreme weather conditions driven by climate change, not any failures or releases from the Kainji and Jebba Dams.
The minister made these clarifications at a press briefing in Abuja today, aiming to quell public speculation about the safety of the critical infrastructure.
Professor Utsev extended his “heartfelt sympathy” to the government and people of Niger State, particularly the affected communities in Mokwa, who have endured significant losses, including lives and displacement, as a result of the natural disaster.
He emphasized that both the Kainji and Jebba Dams are “intact and safe,” dismissing any rumors to the contrary.
The primary cause of the Mokwa flooding, he explained, was intense, localized rainfall that overwhelmed the town’s drainage systems.
Exacerbating the situation were unregulated building practices and blocked water channels, particularly around a tributary of River Dingi, which prevented efficient water flow.
“This is a stark reminder of the growing impacts of climate change,” Minister Utsev remarked.
“The flood in Mokwa was not caused by dam releases but by heavy rainfall and poor land-use practices.”
The Minister highlighted that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had, in fact, predicted the risk of flooding in Mokwa and 18 other Local Government Areas in Niger State as part of its 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), released in April.
The AFO had broadly identified 1,249 communities across 176 LGAs in 33 states and the FCT as high flood risk zones, with over 2,000 communities falling within moderate risk areas nationwide.
In response to the escalating flood risks across the country, Professor Utsev reiterated the Ministry’s recommendations for state and local governments.
These include urgent improvements to drainage infrastructure, relocating vulnerable populations from floodplains, strict enforcement of land-use regulations to prevent encroachment into flood-prone areas, and intensified public awareness campaigns.
He also urged stakeholders to utilize NIHSA’s flood forecast dashboard for real-time updates and community-level risk assessments.
Currently, technical teams from NIHSA, the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA), and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) are on the ground in Mokwa, conducting comprehensive assessments to determine the full cause and impact of the flood.
“We remain committed to managing Nigeria’s water resources in a sustainable and climate-resilient manner,” the Minister affirmed.
He called for a unified approach from all tiers of government, the private sector, civil society, and community leaders to build more resilient communities nationwide.
