The Nigerian Government has attributed the recent floods in Mokwa, Niger State, to extreme weather conditions driven by climate change, unregulated construction, and inadequate drainage infrastructure.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, made this known on Tuesday at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja while addressing the disaster that struck Mokwa, a major market town in north-central Nigeria.
Professor Utsev clarified that no dams had collapsed during the flooding. Instead, he cited unusually heavy rainfall and climate-related factors as the primary causes of the flash floods that devastated the area.
He revealed that a team of technical experts from the ministry and affiliated agencies is currently on the ground assessing the extent of the damage and exploring possible interventions.
The Minister also urged state governments and other stakeholders to prioritise early warning systems and adopt proactive measures to reduce the risk of future flooding.
Mokwa, located approximately 350 kilometres east of the Nigerian capital, Abuja, serves as a vital transit hub connecting traders from the south with food producers in the north.
So far, over 200 bodies have reportedly been recovered in the aftermath of the disaster, with thousands of residents displaced by the surging waters.
