Reps Demand Urgent Aid For Flood Victims In Niger, Kwara

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to swiftly provide emergency relief and disease prevention support to communities in Niger and Kwara States devastated by recent floods.

The call came on Wednesday following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Joshua Audu Gana (PDP, Niger) and Saba Umaru (PDP, Kwara), who painted a grim picture of the havoc caused by torrential rains that began on May 28 and persisted into the early hours of May 29.

According to the lawmakers, Mokwa in Niger State and parts of Edu LGA in Kwara State were hardest hit, with entire neighbourhoods submerged, critical infrastructure ruined, and thousands displaced.

“The House notes that over 500 lives have been lost, more than 600 persons remain missing and presumed dead, while at least 200 sustained injuries. Over 4,000 houses have also been destroyed,” Gana said.

He added that the collapse of an embankment near old railway lines worsened the flooding in Mokwa, swamping key commercial districts like Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa.

While commending President Bola Tinubu for approving N2bn in relief—delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima—and the Niger State Governor for a further N1bn donation, the House stressed the urgency of deploying more aid, including water purification systems, to forestall disease outbreaks.

Lawmakers observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims and demanded improved flood control infrastructure and disaster preparedness in vulnerable regions.

Two Children Drown In Minna

In a related tragedy on Wednesday, two children were found dead in a drainage ditch in Minna, Niger State, after heavy rainfall the previous afternoon. The victims included a nine-year-old girl sent to the market with her older brother. She reportedly slipped into the flooded drain on their way home. Their bodies were later recovered from a tunnel on Mandela Street.

NSEMA: Disasters Claimed 500 Lives In Eight Months

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, revealed that over 500 lives were lost to various disasters—including explosions and floods—between September 2024 and May 2025.

He cited incidents such as the September tanker explosion in Agaie that killed 60 people, a January blast in Diko claiming more than 80 lives, and the recent Mokwa flood that displaced thousands. Baba-Arah also warned of growing humanitarian concerns due to resurging banditry in Mariga and Rijau LGAs.