– As Niger flood kills over 200, displaces thousands
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has called on the Federal Government to declare a national environmental emergency following the devastating flood that struck Mokwa, Niger State, displacing over 3,000 residents, killing more than 200 people, and leaving scores still missing.
Describing the incident as a “recurring national nightmare,” Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, said the deluge was the latest chapter in Nigeria’s worsening climate disaster, worsened by government inaction, inadequate infrastructure, and poor emergency preparedness.
Bassey said, “This is a horrendous recurring decimal. There is no word to describe our lack of preparedness and our ill-maintained infrastructure. Combined with insecurity and the fact that more rain is expected, the displacement problems will be compounded.”
He added: “There is no time for excuses. This is the time to declare an environmental state of emergency across board. This national emergency can impact our wellbeing by leading to food scarcity, environmental degradation, mass displacement, increased poverty, water-borne diseases and exacerbate insecurity.”
Mokwa, a vital trading hub in North Central Nigeria, was submerged following hours of intense rainfall, destroying homes, businesses, and key infrastructure.
Survivors, many of whom were forced to flee in the dead of night, are still searching for loved ones, with humanitarian aid slow to reach the affected areas.
HOMEF said the tragedy was not isolated, pointing to the nation’s history of deadly floods.
“In 2012, floods affected 33 of Nigeria’s 36 states, displacing over 2 million people and killing more than 400. In 2022, another disaster claimed over 600 lives, again displacing more than 2 million.
“These disasters are not just natural; they are political. Forecasts and early warnings from agencies like NEMA are meaningless if provisions are not made to relocate people to safe ground. Nigeria must be proactive.”
Also, HOMEF’s Programme Manager for Fossil Politics, Stephen Oduware, also warned that worse may be yet to come.
“The rains are just beginning, and there are signs of more flash floods. Beyond the usual palliative and reactionary responses, what plans are in place to prevent further catastrophe? What is the government doing to address flooding holistically?”
He noted that each flooding event leaves behind a trail of destruction, damaged property, lost lives and livelihoods, and worsening socioeconomic conditions.
According to HOMEF, flooding in Nigeria is both a symptom of the global climate crisis and a result of years of poor urban planning and neglect.
The group urged all relevant government agencies to respond in a coordinated, sustained manner, warning that failure to act now could see entire communities wiped off the map.
“We sympathise with the families affected by the Mokwa flood and stand in solidarity with the impacted communities. This must be a turning point. We cannot keep mourning when we should be preventing,” Dr. Bassey said.
