News Investigators/ Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi states government have intensified proactive measures to mitigate flooding and its impact as the rainy season gathers momentum.
The measures include early warning systems, evacuation protocols, relocation directives for residents in flood-prone communities, inter-agency collaboration, desilting of waterways and sustained public sensitisation campaigns.
The state governments disclosed these in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) amid concerns over predicted flooding in parts of the country during the 2026 rainy season.
In Niger, Alh. Abubakar Musa, the state Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, said the ministry had activated comprehensive strategies to mitigate flooding and its effects across the state.
He told NAN in Minna that the ministry had shifted from reactive disaster response to building structural and community climate resilience.
According to him, one of the major measures adopted is the translation of meteorological forecasts into localised early warning messages for communities.
Musa said the state had also integrated rainfall tracking and river level monitoring to trigger timely evacuation alerts before water levels become critical.
He added that aggressive desilting and waste management efforts were ongoing through the clearing of drainage channels, canals and major waterways in flood-prone local government areas.
The commissioner said the ministry was strictly enforcing environmental regulations against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways while intensifying sensitisation campaigns, particularly in riverine communities.
He further disclosed that evacuation protocols had been put in place for the 2026 rainy season, including the establishment of relocation camps on higher ground for affected residents.
Musa said adequate budgetary provisions had also been made in the 2026 budget to provide economic support for residents of vulnerable riverine communities.
He appealed to residents, especially those living in flood-prone areas, to cooperate with government directives and prioritise their safety.
In Nasarawa State, the government said it would enforce the relocation of residents in flood-prone communities to prevent loss of lives and property.
Princess Margaret Elayo, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, told NAN in Lafia that the government had identified high-risk communities in Doma, Nasarawa, Toto, Awe and Lafia Local Government Areas that experience annual flooding from River Benue and its tributaries.
She said the measure became necessary following predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and previous flood incidents that resulted in loss of lives and property.
“We are partnering with local government chairmen and traditional rulers to guide affected residents to safer locations.
“They should move with their valuables and temporarily vacate their homes to avoid casualties when flooding occurs,” she said.
Elayo urged residents to desist from dumping refuse in drains and erecting structures on waterways to reduce flood risks.
She also pledged to strengthen public awareness campaigns on the need to clear drainage channels and waterways.
“We have engaged traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, and are sponsoring sensitisation programmes in the mass media to educate the public on the dangers of flooding and preventive measures,” she added.
Also speaking, Mr Benjamin Akwash, Director-General of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) urged residents of flood-prone communities to comply with the relocation directive.
He said the government would enforce the order, stressing that protection of lives and property remained a priority.
In Kogi, Mr Otitolaye Olorunleke, Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations in the state Ministry of Water Resources, said the government had intensified collaboration with relevant agencies to strengthen flood monitoring and mitigation efforts as rainfall increases.
He said that the state government was collaborating with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Lower River Niger Basin Development Authority.
According to him, NIWA had deployed monitoring instruments along Rivers Niger and Benue to provide early warning signals and enable timely precautionary measures against possible flooding.
Olorunleke recalled that the devastating 2012 flood submerged vital equipment at the Greater Lokoja Water Works in Ganaja Village despite an embankment project jointly undertaken by the Kogi Government and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
He said the 2022 flood also overwhelmed the embankment and damaged critical facilities, including electrical panels, generators and pumping machines, resulting in operational shutdown.
The director said the government was rehabilitating the damaged infrastructure despite the huge replacement costs.
He added that rehabilitation work was ongoing at the Old Lokoja Water Works to improve potable water supply in Lokoja metropolis.
Olorunleke further disclosed that the state government had proposed dredging Rivers Niger and Benue through NIWA to reduce flooding.
He said the Ministry of Water Resources was also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on plans to construct dams along the rivers as a long-term solution to recurring floods.
Also, Mrs Irewole Ayo-Alani, the Statistician-General, Kogi State Bureau of Statistics said it was collaborating with relevant agencies to address flooding and other developmental challenges.
She said the agency worked closely with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Environment on flood management and development planning.
According to her, the bureau collects, compiles, analyses and interprets data to guide government policies and decision-making.
Ayo-Alani said the bureau was also conducting a data analytics exercise to support effective planning and informed governance aimed at reducing flood risks and improving residents’ welfare.
NAN
