Niger Republic water release: 3,000 Niger communities risk flooding

More than 3,000 communities in Niger State are at the risk of being submerged should the government of Niger Republic open up its dam.

Speaking with journalists on the warning by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the possibility of Niger Republic releasing water from its dam, the state government through the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Inga said the state would be worst hit by the development.

“The opening of the dam would result in black flood with devastating consequences as such flood comes silently,” he said.

Our correspondent learnt that already six people have been lost to the natural flood disaster that had swept across 300 communities in the past few days.

This is aside the ravaging flood that swept across Suleja and Tafa local government areas recently with consequent deaths and destruction.

“We have begun intensive sensitization of our people to limit water based activities and move upland. We have identified higher land and we are using community leaders to prevail on the people to move out of water ways,” Inga said.

He stressed the urgent need for communities on the plane of River Niger and River Kaduna to start moving upland to minimize damages and avoid further loss of lives during the flooding period.

Inga urged the people of Nupeko area where rivers Niger and Kaduna meet to be vigilant and keep constant eyes on rising waters while fishing.