The Federal Government has identified heavy rainfall driven by climate change, unregulated building and construction activities, and inadequate drainage infrastructure as the primary causes of the recent flood in Mokwa town, Niger State.
Reacting to the flashfloods that affected Mokwa, a key market town in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, addressed journalists at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Professor Utsev clarified that the flooding was not due to the collapse of dams, as some reports suggested. Instead, he explained that the overflow resulted from extreme weather conditions and unusually heavy rainfall associated with climate change, compounded by unchecked construction and poor drainage systems in the area.
The minister emphasized the need for improved urban planning, regulation of building activities, and investment in resilient drainage infrastructure to mitigate the impact of future floods. He also called for increased awareness and proactive measures to address the challenges posed by climate change.
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