Northern Senators Demand Permanent Solution to Recurring Niger Flooding
Northern senators have called on the Federal and Niger State governments to develop a permanent solution to recurring flooding in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, warning that continued reliance on emergency relief would leave affected communities exposed to repeated disasters.
The lawmakers, under the aegis of the Northern Senators’ Forum, made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by the forum’s Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, representing Katsina Central.
They specifically demanded the development and implementation of a Shiroro Flood Management Master Plan to provide a coordinated, sustainable and long-term approach to flood prevention and management in the area.
According to the senators, the proposed plan should incorporate a scientifically determined flood-buffer operating strategy for the Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba dams, alongside a permanent flood forecasting and early-warning system supported by trained community volunteers downstream.
They also called for a comprehensive floodplain resettlement programme involving planned settlements, adequate compensation and livelihood support for residents repeatedly affected by flooding.
The lawmakers further advocated an independent technical review of dam operations, reservoir capacity and spillway performance, taking into account the effects of changing climate conditions.
They said such a review would help determine how water releases from the dams could be better managed to minimise downstream flooding while maintaining the operational requirements of the facilities.
The senators said the recurring flooding in Shiroro and other riverine communities required a shift from reactive emergency interventions to long-term planning, prevention and risk reduction.
They commended the National Emergency Management Agency for its interventions and distribution of relief materials to victims but expressed concern that flooding continued to follow a recurring pattern in the affected communities.
The forum also urged the Federal and Niger State governments, in collaboration with local authorities, to activate immediate measures as the rainy season reaches its peak.
It called for the timely distribution of relief materials to verified victims, provision of temporary shelters with basic health and sanitation facilities, and deployment of emergency evacuation and early-warning teams to flood-prone communities.
The senators further urged residents to heed safety advisories and avoid constructing buildings on waterways and other flood channels.
They stressed that emergency relief alone could not address the structural causes of recurring flooding, particularly in communities located downstream of major dams and along floodplains.
The lawmakers proposed that the flood management master plan should bring together relevant Federal and state agencies, dam operators, local authorities, technical experts and affected communities to establish a coordinated and sustainable flood management framework.
They also advocated greater reliance on reliable hydrological and meteorological data to improve flood prediction and ensure that communities receive adequate warning before water levels reach dangerous thresholds.
The Northern Senators’ Forum maintained that a combination of long-term planning, improved dam management, early-warning mechanisms, climate-sensitive infrastructure and community preparedness would be critical to reducing the frequency and impact of flooding in Shiroro and other vulnerable communities.
