Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has issued a strong warning to residents in riverine communities to relocate immediately as four major dams– Shiroro, Jebba, Kainji, and Zungeru – begin releasing excess water.

The alert, issued in Minna on Thursday, warns of imminent and potentially catastrophic flooding in areas downstream of the hydroelectric dams.

The Director General of NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, said the discharge of thousands of gallons of water per minute could cause rivers to overflow, endangering lives and livelihoods in low-lying communities.

“People living in flood-prone areas should relocate to safer, higher grounds already identified. Activities around riverbanks should also be limited during this peak rainfall period,” he said.

Arah added that the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had also advised communities along the Niger and Kaduna Rivers to evacuate immediately to avoid disaster.

He further cited predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which forecast violent windstorms towards the end of the rainy season. Residents were advised to avoid sheltering under trees during storms and to avoid staying in substandard buildings that may collapse.

According to NSEMA, flooding has already damaged homes, farmlands, roads, and bridges in several local government areas (LGAs) across Niger State. The situation has displaced many residents and disrupted socio-economic activities.

The most affected LGAs include:

Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro, and Wushishi.

NSEMA also confirmed that lives have been lost, though the number of casualties has not yet been disclosed.