Residents in riverine areas of Niger State have been urged to evacuate immediately, following warnings that four major hydroelectric dams — Shiroro, Jebba, Kainji, and Zungeru — may begin releasing excess water without notice.
The alert was issued to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), prompting an urgent advisory to communities located near Rivers Niger and Kaduna to relocate to higher ground.
In a statement released in Minna, NSEMA’s Director-General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, described the potential flooding as “catastrophic,” citing the massive volumes of water expected to be discharged from the dams.
“The dams are releasing thousands of gallons of water per minute that could lead to the overflow of these rivers, and so we are advising our communities to limit activities around riverbanks during this peak rainy season to avoid flooding.
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“Similarly, people living in riverine areas should relocate to safer grounds already identified,” he declared.
The DG continued: “Some of the affected local government areas are Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro and Wushishi.”
The hydrological warning extends to at least 20 local government areas, including Lavun, Mokwa, Shiroro, Suleja, Bida, Chanchaga, and others.
Although loss of life has already been reported in some of these areas, officials did not provide a specific death toll.
