By John Moses
The Nigerian Senate has called on the Federal Government to urgently investigate the devastating flood that recently struck Mokwa in Niger State, as well as similar disasters across the country, in a bid to implement long-term solutions and avert future occurrences.
The resolution, passed during Tuesday’s plenary, followed a motion sponsored by Senator Peter Jiya (PDP–Niger) and supported by over 20 lawmakers. Titled “Catastrophic Flood Disaster in Mokwa, Niger State and Need for Proactive Action to Forestall Future Occurrence,” the motion urged the government to prioritise the development of sustainable flood control infrastructure and early warning systems.
During the session, the upper legislative chamber also observed a minute’s silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Senator Jiya recounted that the flood, triggered by intense rainfall on 29 and 30 May, resulted in catastrophic damage and claimed over 700 lives, including children attending four Islamic schools. However, only around 300 bodies were recovered, he said.
He estimated that the flood destroyed properties worth over ₦10 billion, including critical public infrastructure such as railway lines, bridges, and roads.
Jiya noted that he had previously appealed to the Ecological Fund Office to address the vulnerable waterways in Mokwa and neighbouring Kutigi, warning of potential disaster. Despite meteorological alerts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), no significant preventive measures were taken, he lamented.
While Vice-President Kashim Shettima and emergency agencies such as NEMA and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency visited the scene and promised relief, Jiya said the scale of the disaster had overwhelmed available resources.
Senator Victor Umeh (LP–Anambra) described the incident as a “monumental national tragedy,” criticising the failure of authorities to act on prior warnings. He urged greater preparedness as heavier rainfall is expected in the coming weeks.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, extended his condolences to the victims’ families and the people of Niger State.
