Residents of riverine communities in Niger State have been urged to relocate to safer grounds following notifications from four major hydroelectric dams — Shiroro, Jebba, Kainji, and Zungeru — indicating imminent release of excess water.
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed it had received official communication from the dam authorities, warning that the discharge could lead to severe flooding along the Rivers Niger and Kaduna.
In a statement issued in Minna on Thursday, the Director General of NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Arah, described the situation as potentially “catastrophic,” stressing that thousands of gallons of water would be released per minute.
“The Nigerian Hydrological Services has also advised that communities along Rivers Niger and Kaduna should relocate immediately. We are urging our people to limit activities around riverbanks during this peak rainy season to prevent casualties,” Arah said.
He further warned that residents of flood-prone and riverine areas must move to higher grounds already identified by the agency, adding that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had forecast violent windstorms towards the end of the rainy season.
“People should avoid standing under trees during rainfall and also stay away from weak or substandard structures,” he advised.
Arah disclosed that several parts of the state are already experiencing the devastating impact of flooding, with farmlands, houses, bridges, and link roads destroyed. He said the development has displaced many residents and disrupted socio-economic activities in affected areas.
The local government areas (LGAs) worst hit include Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro, and Wushishi.
While confirming that lives had been lost to the flooding, the NSEMA boss did not disclose the specific number of casualties.
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