By Fatima Saka
The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday observed a minute of silence in honour of victims of the devastating flood that ravaged Mokwa town in Niger State, calling for an urgent investigation into the incident and decisive action to prevent future tragedies.
The tribute followed a motion raised on the Senate floor by Senator Peter Ndalikali Jiya, representing Niger South Senatorial District, who decried the scale of destruction and loss of life, describing it as catastrophic.
He urged the Federal Government to launch a comprehensive probe into the Mokwa flood and other recent flooding incidents across the country, and with the aim of implementing sustainable flood control systems, early warning mechanisms, and resettlement strategies.
The flood, which struck Mokwa between May 29 and 30, 2025, after heavy rainfall, led to the deaths of over 700 people, including pupils from four Islamic schools. Only about 300 bodies have been recovered, with hundreds still unaccounted for many believed to have been swept into the River Niger. Over 9,500 residents were affected, with 3,000 displaced and more than 1,800 homes destroyed. Some 3,354 persons are currently housed in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Senator Jiya lamented the failure of government agencies to act on early warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), despite previous calls to the Ecological Fund Office for proactive interventions in the Mokwa and Kutigi areas. “Even cars and small buildings were washed away,” he said while briefing journalists. “More than 50,000 hectares of farmland were lost, rail lines uprooted, bridges collapsed, this is beyond a local disaster; it demands national attention.”
He further noted that although the Vice President, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) visited the affected areas and provided immediate relief, the magnitude of the disaster has overwhelmed the available resources.
The Senate, in its resolutions, urged the Federal Government to:
Immediately investigate the Mokwa flood and implement long-term solutions;
Prioritize the delivery of relief packages promised during the Vice President’s visit;
Direct relevant authorities to resettle those living along active and inactive river paths;
Provide additional relief materials, including food, clean water, shelter, and medical aid;
Mandate the Senate Committees on Works, Housing, Federal Ministry of Water Resources And Sanitation and Urban Development to visit the affected communities for on-the-spot assessment and monitor implementation of the federal relief interventions.
Senator Jiya emphasized the need for stronger enforcement of building regulations and dredging of major rivers like the Niger and Benue to prevent future disasters.
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“Governments at all levels, and indeed individuals, must stop building on waterways, whether active or inactive. Everyone has a role to play, and laws must be enforced for the greater good,” he said.
He further urged the government and the Nigerian people to rise to the occasion and support the thousands of victims struggling to rebuild their lives.
