The Niger State Government has warned residents in 19 flood-prone communities to immediately relocate to higher ground, after early morning rainfall on Sunday destroyed farmlands in parts of Lapai and Paikoro local government areas.
According to a statement by Jonathan Vatsa, Special Adviser to Governor Umar Bago on Media and Strategy, the government is deeply concerned about the safety of lives and property as heavy rains continue to pound the region.
In Lapai LGA, at least 18 communities including Dere, Eshi, Apataku, Tsakanabi, Kuchi Kakanda, Arah, Achiba, Rebba, Ebwa, Pele, and others are at serious risk of being submerged. Farmlands in Kafin Koro, Paikoro LGA, were also washed away during Sunday’s downpour.
Vatsa noted that while the government understands people’s emotional ties to their ancestral homes, the threat of disaster makes it necessary for residents to temporarily leave those areas until the rainy season ends.
“We cannot afford another Mokwa experience,” he warned, referring to past deadly floods in the state. “The lives of our people are more important.”
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has already identified 15 out of 25 LGAs in Niger State as vulnerable to flooding each rainy season. In line with this, the Federal Government recently directed residents of Rijau, Sarkin Pawa, Suleja, and Mashegu LGAs to evacuate due to predicted heavy rainfall from July 31 to August 4, 2025.
The Federal Ministry of Environment’s Flood Early Warning Centre has also issued alerts urging authorities and residents to take proactive steps to avoid large-scale damage.
Vatsa appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community heads to help spread the message and ensure people in high-risk areas take the warning seriously.
Flooding has become a yearly threat in Niger State, often leading to loss of lives, homes, and crops. Both federal and state governments are now on high alert, urging immediate action from vulnerable communities.
