By Omoniyi David
The devastating flash floods that hit Mokwa in Niger State on May 29, 2025, following an intense overnight downpour, have left over 161 people dead, dozens missing, and more than 3,000 displaced.
Entire settlements were washed away, with families losing homes, farmlands, livestock, and food supplies.
This catastrophe, while triggered by natural forces, highlights a long-standing failure of Nigerian authorities to follow through on flood prevention measures and infrastructure upgrades in known disaster-prone areas.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited the scene, described Mokwa as a vital crossroads in Nigeria’s geography and commerce, connecting the North and South.
Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he pledged federal support, including a ₦2 billion emergency fund for rebuilding destroyed homes in partnership with the Niger State Government.
He added that the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, would be stationed in Minna for a week to oversee food relief distribution.
Additionally, four critical bridges and drainage systems in Mokwa are to be reconstructed immediately to mitigate future risks.
The May 29 flooding wasn’t an isolated event. For over a decade, Mokwa has suffered recurring floods due to river overflows.
In 2018, the Mokwa-Jeba bridge collapsed after a downpour, prompting temporary federal intervention.
Other key bridges;such as the NRC Bridge, Raba Bridge, and the major North-South link bridge have remained vulnerable due to neglect.
While the federal directive to fix the bridges is a step forward, what Mokwa and similar communities need is a comprehensive and proactive flood management plan.
Temporary fixes won’t suffice. The trauma of this disaster must never be repeated.
This tragedy underscores the urgency of a coordinated national response.
Earlier in 2025, the federal government warned that 1,249 communities in 176 LGAs across 30 states and the FCT fall within high-risk flood zones.
States named included Niger, Kogi, Lagos, Bayelsa, Anambra, and others.
State governments must act immediately by dredging rivers, clearing drainages, and sensitizing communities. Emergency water channels should be created, and building regulations in flood-prone zones enforced.
The ecological funds disbursed monthly to states must be transparently and effectively used for such interventions.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State must ensure that all relief funds whether from the federal government, aid agencies, or private donors, reach the actual victims and are managed with transparency and accountability.
Mokwa’s tragedy should serve as a national wake-up call. It is time to declare a national emergency on flooding and move from reaction to prevention.
