BAGO BLAMES CLIMATE CHANGE, FOREIGN WATER INFLOW FOR MOKWA FLOODING TRAGEDY
Read Time:1 Minute, 54 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has expressed uncertainty over the source of the massive flooding that recently devastated Mokwa Local Government Area, resulting in the death of nearly 200 people. The governor suggested that the water may have originated beyond Nigeria’s borders, including from the Niger Republic and other parts of Africa.
Governor Bago made the remarks on Tuesday when he received Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, who paid him a condolence visit over the flood disaster.
“Unlike other years, after the first rain, all our dams are so full we don’t even know where the waters are coming from—whether there is an overflow from Niger Republic or other parts of Africa,” Bago said.
He noted that Niger State, which houses four major hydropower dams—Kainji, Jebba, Shiroro, and Zungeru—has seen unprecedented water levels this year.
“Your Excellency, Niger State has vast land even bigger than Borno State; the difference is that Borno has more desert, and we have more water,” Bago said, adding that the early rainfall and dam saturation have already begun affecting riverside communities severely.
In response to the tragedy, Governor Zulum announced a donation of N300 million to support victims and complement Niger State’s emergency response efforts.
The Borno governor also called on the Federal Government to implement a robust mechanism to mitigate the impacts of climate change, which he identified as a key driver of the recurrent natural disasters in Nigeria.
Governor Bago commended Zulum for his show of solidarity and generosity, describing the visit and donation as “timely” and “a show of love.” He also praised Zulum’s leadership qualities, noting that they share similar challenges and aspirations.
Reiterating the urgent need for national coordination, Bago urged the Federal Government to collaborate more closely with subnational entities.
“We want to call in the Federal Government to continue to work with the subnational, especially at this time of serious rainfall and climate change. As you rightly enumerated, climate change is a reality, and there is a need for our people to understand that,” Bago said.
The flooding in Mokwa is one of the deadliest natural disasters in recent times in Niger State, highlighting the growing threat of extreme weather events in Nigeria’s middle belt region.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0