The Nigerian government rejects claims that connect floods that kill 150 dam failures

The federal government has rejected the claim that the newly destroyed floods in the state of Niger were caused by the failure of water from the nearby dam.

At least 150 people were killed in floods that followed a few hours of heavy rain in Mokwa, Niger state, last week.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who spoke to a journalist at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, said the Kainji and Jebba dam remained structurally healthy and fully operating.

He said: “It is important to clarify that flooding in Mokwa is not the result of the release of water from the Kainji or Jebba dam.

“Both facilities are intact and do not pose a risk for the surrounding community.”

Utsev stated the sympathy of the federal government to the government and the people of the state of Niger, especially the people affected by the disaster, in the incident.

He praised the rapid response of the state government, local authority, and the first respondent for providing assistance to the victims.

According to the Minister, floods are mostly caused by heavy rainfall associated with extreme weather conditions driven by climate change, which flooded the city drainage infrastructure.

He emphasized that building activities that were not regulated and encroachment blocked the seasonal tributaries of the Dingi River, which usually remained dry except during the period of heavy rain.

Also read: Floods: Lagos Government Defending Demolition When Climate Threats Rise

The minister noted that the absence of an efficient alternative drainage channel made the situation worse.

He also remembers that the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) has warned the potential for flooding in the Mokwa regional government as part of the 2025 annual flood outlook (AFO) which was released on April 10.

Utsev said: “AFO identified 1,249 communities in 176 regional government regions in 33 states and the Federal Capital Region (FCT) as a high flood risk zone. 2,187 additional communities in 293 LGA are registered as moderate risk.

High-risk countries including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, IMO, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Kwara, Lago, Nasarawa, Nigawa, Onyo, Kwara, Kwara, Kwara, Kwara, Lago, Nasarawa, Nasarawa, Christianity Nasarawa, Nasarawa, Nasarawa, Nasarawa, Nasarawa, Nasarawa, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara. “

He repeated previous warnings and urged the state and regional governments to increase drainage, move communities that were at risk, increasing public awareness, and enforcing land use laws.

He also encouraged stakeholders to consult with the Dashboard for Estimated Floods Online Nihsa for detailed and specific risk information to help with proactive planning and disaster mitigation.