— Call for coordinated action by FG, state government
— Commiserate with families affected by disaster
By Henry Umoru
ABUJA — Senators from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the aegis of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), have called for a permanent and coordinated solution to recurring flooding in Shiroro, Minna and other communities in Niger State.
The lawmakers said the situation required more than annual emergency responses, urging the Federal and Niger State governments to adopt long-term measures to prevent loss of lives and property.
The call followed recent flooding in parts of Minna, Chanchaga, Bosso and Shiroro Local Government Areas of the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Chairman of the NSF, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central), commiserated with the government and people of Niger State, particularly families affected by the disaster.
The forum sympathised with families who lost loved ones, homes, farms, businesses and sources of livelihood, while expressing concern over the hardship faced by displaced residents.
The senators acknowledged the response of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) in assessing and documenting the impact of the flooding.
However, they noted that flooding in Shiroro and other riverine communities had become a recurring problem that required both immediate intervention and long-term planning.
The forum urged the Federal and state governments, in collaboration with local authorities, to ensure prompt distribution of relief materials to verified victims and provide temporary shelters with basic healthcare and sanitation facilities.
It also called for the deployment of emergency evacuation teams and early-warning systems in flood-prone communities ahead of the peak of the rainy season.
The senators urged residents to heed safety advisories and avoid construction on waterways and other flood-prone areas.
For the long term, the forum called for the development of a Shiroro Flood Management Master Plan.
According to the senators, the plan should include a scientifically determined flood-buffer operating strategy for the Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba dams, as well as a permanent flood forecasting and early-warning system supported by trained local volunteers downstream.
The forum also proposed a comprehensive floodplain resettlement programme that would provide planned settlements, compensation and livelihood support for affected residents.
It further called for an independent technical review of dam operations, reservoir capacity and spillway performance in view of changing climate conditions, to determine how future water releases could be better managed.
The senators cited the 2025 Mokwa flooding and a 2025 vulnerability study indicating that 32 per cent of Shiroro Local Government Area was highly prone to flooding as evidence of the need for urgent action.
They said infrastructure interventions, including road and drainage repairs, should be integrated into a broader water-resource and environmental management framework addressing deforestation, inadequate drainage and unregulated development along riverbanks.
The forum assured the people of Niger State of its commitment to advocating appropriate budgetary provisions and legislative support aimed at reducing the impact of flooding and preventing avoidable disasters.
It also called on federal and state agencies, traditional and community leaders and residents to work together to protect lives and strengthen resilience against future flooding.
The senators prayed for comfort for bereaved families, strength for displaced residents and wisdom for authorities working to find lasting solutions to the recurring flooding.
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