Government Attributes Mokwa Flood to Climate Change and Illegal Constructions

The Federal Government attributed the catastrophic Mokwa flood in Niger State, which killed 208 and displaced 3,018 from May 28-29, 2025, to climate change and unregulated buildings.

Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal, addressing a relief camp in Minna, cited a 12-hour downpour delivering 200 mm of rain, 50% above the region’s average, as evidence of intensified weather patterns. He noted 60% of Mokwa’s homes were built on floodplains without permits, blocking drainage and submerging 1,000 hectares of farmland. The flood, Nigeria’s deadliest in 2025, destroyed 265 homes and cost ₦500 million in damages.

The government allocated ₦200 million for recovery, distributing ₦50 million in aid like rice and blankets to 503 households, but victims criticized delays, with 1,500 still in shelters. Lawal announced a $100 million climate adaptation fund for 2026, targeting 10 flood-prone states, and urged compliance with building codes, as 40% of Niger’s structures lack approval.

Critics, including 55% of residents in polls, blamed poor urban planning, noting Mokwa’s 20-year-old drainage system. The disaster, part of 321 flood deaths nationwide in 2024, underscores Nigeria’s vulnerability, with 500 mm of rain forecast for 2025. Calls for ₦10 billion in federal flood-control infrastructure intensify, as unregulated buildings, up 30% since 2020, exacerbate risks.