President Bola Tinubu has called for immediate search and rescue operations following deadly floods that have claimed the lives of at least 151 people in Niger State, north-central Nigeria. He instructed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and security forces to intensify efforts to reach affected communities and provide relief to victims.
The directive comes amid a national push to strengthen disaster response. On Friday, NEMA held a meeting with state officials and partners under the theme “Building Resilience, Improving Preparedness and Response” to address the recurring issue of seasonal flooding and its growing toll on lives and infrastructure.
Mokwa, the town hardest hit by the floods, holds significant economic importance as a trade route connecting Nigeria’s southern markets with northern agricultural regions. The destruction of roads, bridges, and homes has disrupted commerce and deepened the humanitarian crisis.
According to Ibrahim Hussaini, spokesperson for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the floods—caused by torrential rains that began late Wednesday—displaced over 3,000 people, destroyed 265 houses, and affected more than 500 households.
Authorities continue to assess the damage and support survivors, as communities in the region confront one of the deadliest floods in recent years.
