Daniel Otera
The death toll from the devastating flood that struck Mokwa town in Niger State has risen to 153, with over 3,018 residents displaced, following torrential rains that swept through the area last week. Officials and humanitarian workers are still searching for dozens of missing persons feared swept away by the raging waters.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the updated figures on Sunday, revealing the full scale of the disaster, which has now emerged as one of Nigeria’s deadliest localised floods in recent years.
“More bodies were recovered late yesterday beneath the bridge in Mokwa,” said NSEMA Acting Director General Ibrahim Hussaini. “They were buried this morning in a mass grave, in line with health protocols.”
The Journal Nigeria gathered that 265 homes were destroyed, three bridges collapsed, and more than 100 people are still unaccounted for.
In addition to Mokwa town, neighbouring communities like Ndayako and Raba also recorded damage, although no deaths have been confirmed in those areas.
“We lost at least 15 from this house,” said Mohammed Tanko, a 29-year-old civil servant, pointing to the ruins of his childhood home. “We’ve lost everything people, property, and hope.”
As the search for survivors continues, concern is mounting over Nigeria’s readiness for climate-related disasters.
An NGO, Environment Watch, has attributed the scale of the flooding to failure in executing critical infrastructure projects budgeted in 2025.
“It is shocking that the Ministry of Works has yet to begin procurement for crucial rural roads and bridges captured in this year’s budget,” said Haruna Ndazogi, Programme Manager for Environment Watch.
“While Lagos-Calabar Highway is getting attention, rural communities like Mokwa are paying the price.”
Mr Ndazogi urged President Bola Tinubu to probe alleged delays in infrastructure procurement by Works Minister David Umahi. He claimed that although some flood-prone areas were captured in lawmakers’ 2025 constituency project submissions, not a single project has commenced due to bureaucratic inertia.
With over 500 households displaced, Red Cross officials say many survivors are still missing loved ones.
The Red Cross also confirmed that 121 people are receiving treatment in hospitals across Mokwa and adjoining towns.
President Tinubu, responding to early briefings from NEMA, has activated the National Emergency Response Centre and directed all relevant agencies to support the Niger State Government.
Additionally, Senator Sani Musa, who represents Niger East and chairs the Senate Finance Committee, has donated ₦50 million and several trucks of food supplies to victims.
“This is a personal gesture of solidarity. People are suffering, and they need immediate help,” the senator stated.
His donation has rekindled public debate over lawmakers’ official and unofficial monthly earnings, with critics questioning whether a more structured federal relief system shouldn’t be prioritised over individual gestures.
According to official records, Nigerian senators earn over ₦1 million monthly in salaries, but receive an estimated ₦21 million in monthly allowances and running costs, according to recent disclosures by Senator Kawu Sumaila.
Nigeria’s rainy season, which typically spans six months, has only just begun, yet NEMA warned of flash floods in 15 states, including Niger.
In 2024 alone, flooding incidents claimed the lives of 321 people across 34 of Nigeria’s 36 states, according to figures presented by Governor Charles Soludo during a National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The council also reported that over 1.4 million Nigerians were affected, with 740,743 displaced and more than 281,000 homes destroyed.
The NEC, citing data from emergency agencies, warned that the scale of destruction underscores the urgent need for a national flood mitigation strategy, including infrastructure upgrades and proper land use planning.
“This tragic incident is a warning,” noted NEMA in a statement. “We must stop building on waterways and start maintaining our drainage infrastructure.”
