The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, improve flood control infrastructure and control disaster preparedness in flood-prone regions of the country to avert the disaster associated with flooding annually.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance on the need to address issues of flooding as a result of the recent flood in Mokwa, leading to loss of lives and property, sponsored by Joshua Audu Gana and Saba Ahmed Umaru.
The House also asked the federal government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to provide relief materials, including water purification equipment, to prevent disease outbreaks in the affected communities.
Leading debate on the motion, Gana recalled that in late May, 2025, Niger/Kwara State experienced one of its devastating floods in decades, particularly affecting the town of Mokwa and Farm Lands in part of Kwara State.
According to him, the disaster resulted in over 500 confirmed deaths, with more than 600 people still missing and presumed dead. At least 200 others were injured, and over 4000 houses were destroyed.
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He commended the magnanimity of His Excellency, the President and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Ahmed Tinubu, who donated the sum of two billion through the Vice President, the Executive Governor of Niger State who also donated the sum of one billion naira, NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians for their contributions and support to ameliorate the plight of the flood victims in Niger state.
He said the flooding was triggered by torrential rain that began on May 28 and continued into the early hours of May 29, adding that the collapse of a nearby embankment of the old Rail lines exacerbated the situation, leading to inundation of Mokwa’s commercial districts, including Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa.
He disclosed that the floodwaters swept away entire neighbourhoods, destroyed critical infrastructure, and displaced thousands of residents.
He said the floodwaters often carry contaminants such as faecal matter, debris, and pollutants, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases and expressed concern that there is a heightened risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever, and acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) in the affected areas.
Gana said the destruction of farmlands and disruption of food supply chains have led to food insecurity among flood victims, children, nursing mothers, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition, which can weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to infections.
He said the overcrowded conditions in IDP camps, coupled with inadequate sanitation facilities, increase the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases such as measles and respiratory infections.