Niger State Government says it has stepped up its battle against seasonal flooding with the construction of more than 800 housing units and the expansion of emergency shelters to safeguard vulnerable communities across the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Yakubu Kolo revealed this when he received Journalists on Monday who on a fact-finding mission visited the state to investigate the causes of boat accidents nationwide
Hon. Kolo said the state has constructed 44 housing units in Muregi, 81 in Ketso, and over 500 units in other flood-prone local government areas to provide safe relocation options for residents during emergencies. He said an additional 200 units are under construction through a partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).
The Commissioner of Environment explained that these shelters are part of a broader disaster preparedness strategy targeting riverine communities, particularly those along the Niger and Kaduna Rivers, which are most vulnerable to seasonal floods.
“We have a flood alert system linked with NIMET, and once there is an alert, we pass the information to communities through radio, television, social media, and traditional rulers to prompt early evacuation,” he said.
According to Hon. Kolo, the Niger state government has also provided immediate relief to affected areas, including the distribution of 1,000 clean cookstoves to flood-hit households in Mokwa, as part of measures to reduce deforestation and mitigate environmental degradation that worsens flooding.
Kolo noted that sustained sensitization through Emirates, village heads, and district heads has improved community response, although some residents remain reluctant to relocate until floods occur.
According to him, the state’s proactive approach combines emergency shelter provision, public awareness, environmental protection, and strategic partnerships to build resilience against future flooding disasters.
