In a detailed briefing on Tuesday, Prof. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, dismissed claims that the recent flood in Mokwa, Niger State, was due to water releases from the Kainji and Jebba dams. The Minister reassured Nigerians that both dams are intact and safe.
Addressing the media in Abuja, Prof. Utsev extended condolences to the victims and attributed the flooding to extreme weather patterns driven by climate change, coupled with poor urban planning. “The flood was not caused by water releases from either the Kainji or Jebba dams,” he said. “It was primarily caused by heavy rainfall due to extreme weather conditions occasioned by Climate change, an emerging Global Phenomenon which overwhelmed local drainage systems.”
He pointed out that unregulated construction blocked a tributary of the River Dingi, worsening the situation. The Minister also referenced the ministry’s 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, which had forecast flooding risks in 19 LGAs of Niger State, including Mokwa.
Highlighting the broader flood risk across Nigeria, Prof. Utsev noted that over a thousand communities are in high-risk flood zones. He called on authorities to improve drainage, relocate vulnerable populations, and enforce land-use laws to mitigate future disasters.
