The Niger State Government has issued a renewed warning to communities situated along flood plains to relocate to safer grounds, following heavy early morning rainfall on Sunday that destroyed farmlands in Lapai and Paikoro Local Government Areas.
At least 18 communities in Lapai LGA were affected by the downpour, with several farmlands already washed away and others at imminent risk. Communities currently facing heightened flood threats include Dere, Eshi, Apataku, Tsakanabi, Kuchi Kakanda, Arah, Achiba, Rebba, Ebwa, Pele, Edda, Rigido, Gbami, Yawa, Baka, and Muye.
Similarly, farmlands in the Kafin Koro area of Paikoro LGA were also destroyed during the same rainfall event.
In response, the state government has urged immediate evacuation of at-risk residents. Speaking through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication, Media, and Strategy, Jonathan Vatsa, the government emphasized the importance of moving to higher grounds to avoid further disaster.
“We understand the emotional and ancestral attachment to these lands, but it is critical that people prioritize their safety during this period,” Vatsa stated. “The Mokwa experience is still fresh in our minds—we must not allow such a tragedy to repeat.”
Vatsa referenced earlier warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which listed 15 out of the state’s 25 LGAs as highly vulnerable to seasonal flooding.
This renewed advisory follows a national alert from the Federal Government, warning residents of four Niger State LGAs—Rijau, Sarkin Pawa, Suleja, and Mashegu—to relocate ahead of forecasted heavy rainfall between July 31 and August 4, 2025. The alert was based on projections from the National Flood Early Warning Centre, under the Federal Ministry of Environment.
In a statement signed by Usman Bokani, Director of Erosion, Flood, and Coastal Zone Management Department, the federal government called for immediate proactive measures by local authorities to reduce disaster risks.
Vatsa concluded by appealing to traditional rulers, community heads, and religious leaders to intensify public awareness and support government efforts in sensitizing residents in vulnerable areas.
