In the wake of a tragic flood that swept through Mokwa Local Government Area in Niger State, killing at least 21 people and displacing hundreds, Nigeria’s Governors are uniting in grief and resolve.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, issued a powerful statement on Friday, expressing solidarity with Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and the affected communities. The Forum described the flood’s impact as “shocking” and emphasized the urgent need for coordinated disaster management and long-term climate resilience planning.
Mokwa, a quiet town in central Nigeria, was engulfed by severe flooding after days of torrential rainfall—a pattern that climate scientists say is becoming more frequent and intense in West Africa. Homes were swept away, lives were lost, and families now face the daunting task of rebuilding from nothing.
AbdulRazaq, in the NGF statement, said, “We sincerely commiserate with the families who lost loved ones and commend the Niger State Government for its swift emergency response. But this is also a wake-up call. Climate change is here, and it is affecting our communities in devastating ways.”
The flood in Mokwa underscores the vulnerabilities of many Nigerian communities to extreme weather events, a growing concern globally as the climate crisis intensifies. According to environmental experts, rising temperatures, poor drainage infrastructure, and urban encroachment into flood-prone zones are compounding the crisis.
The NGF pledged to work closely with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and international development partners to improve preparedness and mitigation strategies.
As Nigeria mourns the lives lost in Mokwa, the message from its governors is clear: disaster resilience is no longer optional—it’s a national imperative.
