NEMA deploys teams to 15 High-Risk states as Mokwa flood death toll rises to 160

In response to the escalating flood crisis and the recent devastation in Mokwa, Niger State, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed officials to 15 high-risk states across Nigeria.

These deployments aim to raise awareness about impending floods and urge residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate.

Among the states targeted for these proactive measures are Kogi, Imo, Enugu, Adamawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The decision follows the tragic flash flood in Mokwa, Niger State, which has now officially claimed 160 lives, with more bodies still being recovered by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).

Hundreds more are reported missing, and thousands displaced.

NEMA spokesperson Manzo Ezekiel highlighted that many affected residents in Mokwa had constructed homes in gullies despite previous warnings.

He emphasized the critical need for every community, regardless of its official risk designation, to remain vigilant and undertake preventive actions.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, reiterated that the Mokwa flood was not caused by any dam releases.

He clarified that the Kainji and Jebba dams remain intact and safe.

Instead, the disaster was attributed to unusually intense rainfall compounded by unregulated construction and blocked waterways, which severely overwhelmed the area’s drainage systems.

NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar personally visited the affected area within 24 hours of the incident, activating emergency response operations.

The agency has also intensified its nationwide anti-flooding advocacy, conducting in-person community outreach, emergency training, and evacuation planning in collaboration with state agencies.

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The 2025 Annual Flood Outlook had previously identified Mokwa as one of 19 local government areas in Niger State at high risk of flooding.

The outlook also predicted high flood risks for 1,249 communities in 176 LGAs across 33 states and the FCT.

Mokwa, a vital commercial and transit hub connecting southern traders with northern agricultural producers, plays a critical role in Nigeria’s food distribution network.

The flooding not only represents a significant humanitarian tragedy but also poses a potential economic disruption to the nation.