The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has expressed deep sympathy to the victims of the devastating floods that have ravaged over 300 communities in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, displacing millions of people and leaving many in critical conditions.
The flooding, which has submerged homes and farmlands, primarily affecting women and children, has forced thousands to seek shelter in makeshift internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, HEDA called on both local and federal governments to urgently provide relief to the affected communities.
The organization also stressed the importance of heeding early warning signals, pointing out that agencies like the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had issued timely flood forecasts.
These warnings, HEDA argued, were not acted upon swiftly enough.
“The scale of destruction could have been significantly reduced if immediate steps had been taken following NiMet’s 2024 Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) and NIHSA’s 2024 National Flood Outlook,” Arigbabu said.
He highlighted that proactive disaster management would have minimized the damage now being witnessed, especially in flood-prone areas like Mokwa.
The flooding has led to the contamination of water sources, raising concerns about potential disease outbreaks, while the destruction of farmland poses a severe threat to food security in the region.
“The risk of waterborne diseases is imminent as floodwaters have mixed with sewage, and this is a looming health crisis,” Arigbabu warned.
He also highlighted the economic toll the disaster could have, especially on food production, which will further exacerbate Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges.
Earlier in August, HEDA had conducted flood sensitization outreaches across several states, including Bauchi, Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Kwara, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, and Niger.
During these visits, including specific advocacy sessions in Lwafu and Jaagi in Mokwa, the organization raised alarms about the threat of flooding and educated the communities through townhall meetings and information materials on how to prepare for, cope with, and recover from flood disasters.
HEDA urged the government to implement sustainable, long-term flood prevention strategies, stating that immediate relief efforts, while necessary, would not address the root causes of the recurrent flooding.
“The people of Mokwa and other flood-affected areas need urgent attention.
We stand with them in this challenging time, and the government must respond with sustainable solutions,” Arigbabu added.
In a related development, HEDA also expressed condolences to the families of victims of the recent boat mishap in Niger State.
The group called on the government to expand its surveillance of inland waters and ensure strict enforcement of safety regulations, including the ban on night sailing.
Reaffirming its commitment to advocating for environmental sustainability and disaster management, HEDA vowed to continue pushing for policies that protect vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
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