Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, who raised the alarm at a briefing in Abuja, also said the flood in Mokwa was not caused by any release of water from Kainji and Jebba dams, but by heavy rainfall, heightened by the effects of climate change.
The Federal Government has alerted 30 states and the FCT of high flood risks following last week’s deadly Mokwa flood in Niger State that killed 200 and left 500 missing. Water Resources Minister Joseph Utsev attributed the disaster to climate change-induced heavy rainfall, not dam releases, citing blocked drainage and unregulated construction as aggravating factors. The affected states include Lagos, Rivers, Kogi, and others previously flagged in NIHSA’s 2025 flood outlook.
“The flood was caused by extreme weather, not dam operations,” Utsev clarified, praising Niger State’s response while urging other states to “implement preventive measures immediately.”
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