The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has issued a flood alert to communities along the River Niger and River Kaduna. Residents living in riverine and low-lying areas are urged to relocate to safer grounds immediately to prevent loss of lives and property. According to Mediaplusng.com, the advisory is part of urgent measures to reduce the impact of flooding during the peak of the rainy season.
In a statement signed by its Director General, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, NSEMA explained that the alert follows a warning from the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). The warning is linked to the release of water from the Kainji, Shiroro, Zungeru, and Jebba dams in Niger State, which are currently discharging large volumes of water per minute. Mediaplusng.com reports that this development could lead to overflowing rivers and devastating floods in surrounding communities.
The agency further cautioned residents to reduce activities along riverbanks and move to higher grounds already identified as safe locations. It also warned against staying in substandard buildings or standing under trees during rainfall, as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicts violent windstorms toward the end of the rainy season. Mediaplusng.com confirms that several communities have already recorded damage to houses, bridges, farmlands, and roads, leaving many residents displaced.
According to NSEMA, severely affected local government areas include Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro, and Wushishi. Some casualties have also been reported, while assessments are still ongoing. Mediaplusng.com notes that NSEMA is appealing to stakeholders, traditional leaders, the media, and the public to support awareness campaigns and help ensure timely dissemination of flood-related information.
