The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has called for urgent measures to mitigate the impact of recent flooding in parts of Niger State, warning that recurring disasters in Shiroro and other riverine communities require a permanent solution.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the forum sympathised with the government and people of Niger State, particularly victims in Minna, Chanchaga, Bosso and Shiroro Local Government Areas.
It commiserated with families who lost loved ones, homes, farms, businesses and livelihoods, and expressed concern about the hardship faced by displaced residents.
The senators acknowledged the responses of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) in assessing and documenting the disaster.
However, they said the recurring flooding in Shiroro and other riverine communities demanded immediate short-term interventions as well as a long-term strategy.
The forum urged the Federal and Niger State governments, working with local authorities, to urgently distribute relief materials to verified victims and provide temporary shelters with basic healthcare and sanitation facilities.
It also called for the deployment of emergency evacuation and early-warning teams to flood-prone communities ahead of the rainy season’s peak.
The senators urged residents to heed safety advisories and avoid construction in waterways and drainage channels.
On the long-term response, the forum called for the development of a Shiroro Flood Management Master Plan to provide a coordinated, permanent solution to the recurring crisis.
It said the plan should include a scientifically determined flood-buffer operating strategy for the Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba dams, as well as a permanent flood forecasting and early-warning system supported by trained local volunteers downstream.
The forum also proposed a comprehensive floodplain resettlement programme involving planned settlements, compensation and livelihood support for affected residents.
It further demanded an independent technical review of dam operations, reservoir capacity and spillway performance, taking into account changing climate realities, to determine how future water releases should be managed.
The senators said the 2025 Mokwa flooding tragedy and a 2025 vulnerability study indicating that 32 per cent of Shiroro Local Government Area is highly prone to flooding were reminders of the cost of inaction.
They said road and drainage repairs were necessary but should form part of a broader water-resource and environmental management strategy addressing deforestation, poor drainage and unregulated development along riverbanks.
The forum pledged to advocate for appropriate budgetary provisions and legislative support to strengthen flood prevention and reduce avoidable disasters.
It urged federal and state agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and residents to work together to protect lives and build resilience to future flooding.