The Federal Government has attributed the recent deadly floods in Mokwa town, Niger State, to a combination of climate change-induced heavy rainfall, unregulated construction, and inadequate drainage infrastructure.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, debunked reports suggesting that a dam collapse triggered the disaster. Instead, he pointed to extreme weather conditions as the primary driver of the flash floods that have devastated the north-central market town.
“Preliminary assessments show that our dams remain structurally sound. What we witnessed in Mokwa is a direct result of overwhelming rainfall caused by climate change, alongside human factors such as poor urban planning and insufficient drainage,” the minister said.
Prof. Utsev added that a technical team from his ministry and other relevant agencies has been dispatched to the area to assess the scale of destruction and propose sustainable solutions.
He urged state governments to heed early warning systems and take proactive measures to minimize flood risks, especially as Nigeria braces for more extreme weather events.
Mokwa, a key trading hub linking southern traders with northern food producers, has been severely affected. Over 200 bodies have been recovered in recent days, while thousands have been displaced, sparking calls for urgent humanitarian and infrastructural intervention.
