Lawmakers Seek Urgent Action on Niger Flooding

The Northern Senators Forum has called on the Federal and Niger State Governments to take urgent and coordinated measures to address the recurring floods in Minna, Chanchaga, Bosso, Shiroro and other affected communities in Niger State, north central Nigeria.

The Forum in a statement signed by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, commiserated with the government and people of the state, particularly families who lost loved ones, homes, farms, businesses and livelihoods to the recent flooding.

The Senators also expressed sympathy for residents displaced by the disaster, stating that the situation required immediate intervention to prevent further loss of life and property.

While acknowledging the response of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) in assessing and documenting the impact of the floods, the Forum expressed concern that flooding had become a recurring problem in Shiroro and other riverine communities.

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Yar’adua urged the Federal and State Governments in collaboration with local authorities, to immediately distribute relief materials to verified victims and provide temporary shelters equipped with basic health and sanitation facilities.

The Forum also called for the deployment of emergency evacuation and early-warning teams to flood-prone communities ahead of the peak of the rainy season while urging residents to comply with safety advisories and avoid construction on waterways and natural drainage channels.

On long-term measures, the Northern Senators Forum called for the development of a Shiroro Flood Management Master Plan to provide a permanent and coordinated solution to the recurring crisis.

According to the senators, the plan should include a scientifically determined flood-buffer operating strategy for the Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba dams, as well as a permanent flood forecasting and early-warning system supported by trained local volunteers in downstream communities.

The Forum further advocated a comprehensive floodplain resettlement programme involving planned settlements, adequate compensation and livelihood support for people affected by flooding.

Furthermore, the senatora called for an independent technical review of dam operations, reservoir capacity and spillway performance, taking into account changing climate realities, to determine how future water releases should be managed.

The Senators cited the 2025 Mokwa flooding tragedy and a 2025 vulnerability study, which reportedly found that 32 per cent of Shiroro Local Government Area was highly prone to flooding, as evidence of the urgent need for lasting solutions.

The Forum said infrastructure interventions, including road and drainage repairs, were welcome but should form part of a broader water-resource and environmental management strategy addressing deforestation, inadequate drainage and unregulated development along riverbanks.

It pledged to advocate for appropriate budgetary provisions and legislative support aimed at preventing avoidable flood disasters.