Niger govt warns residents to relocate amid dam water release

The Niger State Government has issued a strong warning to communities along the River Niger and River Kaduna to move to safer areas following the release of water from major hydroelectric dams in the state.

The alert, contained in a statement by the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, on Thursday, said the Kainji, Shiroro, Zungeru, and Jebba dams are currently discharging massive volumes of water per minute, raising the risk of river overflow and widespread flooding.

“The Nigerian Hydrological Services has advised communities along the River Niger and Kaduna to relocate. The state government also advises residents to reduce activities around riverbanks during this peak rainy season to avoid disaster,” the statement read.

Baba-Arah further cautioned residents against standing under trees during rainfall or sheltering in weak structures, citing fresh forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which warned of violent windstorms as the rainy season winds down.

He confirmed that some local governments upstream and downstream of the dams — including Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro, and Wushishi — are already grappling with the impact of flooding. Several homes, farmlands, bridges, and access roads have been destroyed, with casualties recorded.

Baba-Arah stressed that assessment of the damage is ongoing and called on stakeholders, traditional rulers, residents, and the media to help spread the safety advisory.

Niger State, which hosts three of Nigeria’s largest dams — Kainji, Shiroro, and Jebba — has historically been among the states worst hit by annual floods. In May 2025, severe flooding in Mokwa LGA killed over 200 people and displaced hundreds.

In 2022, flooding linked to dam releases and heavy rains killed more than 600 people nationwide and displaced over 1.4 million, with Niger among the worst-affected states.