Authorities in Niger State have warned communities along River Niger and River Kaduna to move to safer areas following water release from major dams.
Niger State Government has issued an urgent warning to communities along the River Niger and River Kaduna to relocate immediately to safer areas as major hydro dams continue discharging water.
In a statement on Thursday, the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, said the release from Kainji, Shiroro, Zungeru, and Jebba hydroelectric dams has reached a level that could trigger widespread flooding.
“The Nigerian Hydrological Services has advised communities along the River Niger and Kaduna to relocate. The dams are releasing thousands of gallons of water per minute, which could lead to the overflow of these rivers,” Baba-Arah explained.
He added that residents should restrict activities around riverbanks during this peak rainy season, while those in flood-prone areas are urged to move to higher grounds already identified by authorities.
Citing new warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Baba-Arah also stressed the dangers of windstorms expected towards the end of the rainy season.
“People should avoid standing under trees during rainfall and also avoid substandard structures,” he cautioned.
According to him, parts of Niger State are already facing the effects of rising waters, with houses, farmlands, roads, and bridges washed away in some upstream and downstream communities.
The warning follows a major tragedy earlier in May 2025 when flooding in Mokwa Local Government Area claimed more than 200 lives and displaced over 500 residents.
“The government does not want a repeat of that disaster. We are urging all at-risk communities to take this advisory seriously and act now,” the NSEMA boss said.
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