On the night of May 28, 2025, in Mokwa, Niger State, a wall of floodwater surged through sleeping communities, tearing down houses, washing away bridges, and sweeping entire families into the dark. By dawn, more than 200 lives were lost, over 500 homes destroyed, and an entire local economy shattered.
Faced with one of Niger State’s deadliest floods in recent memory, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago didn’t just promise words of comfort. Within days, he announced an immediate ₦1 billion flood relief fund to care for survivors and commissioned a ₦7 billion contract to rebuild the critical road and four bridges linking Mokwa to Rabba — a vital trade and transport lifeline for farmers, traders, and daily commuters.
This story dives deep: how the flood unfolded, the human stories of loss and survival, and how Bago’s administration is pairing emergency relief with smart, climate‑resilient infrastructure to protect Mokwa’s future.
Background: Flood Disaster in Mokwa
Heavy rainfall is normal in Mokwa, but this wasn’t normal rain. From late May 28 through the early hours of May 29, 2025, a sudden torrential downpour pushed the River Kaduna and its tributaries beyond their banks. Weak drainage and poor embankments in low‑lying communities like Tiffin Maza, Tiffin Madza, and surrounding villages couldn’t hold back the surge.
As families slept, the waters rose silently, then violently. Entire rows of houses, mostly mud brick and zinc, crumbled under the force. Farmland that feeds local households and city markets washed away in hours.
By sunrise, the village’s main bridge on the Mokwa‑Rabba road had collapsed, cutting off thousands from food supplies and emergency help. The State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and local volunteers began a frantic rescue operation. Many villagers had no choice but to wade chest‑deep to safety.
Official figures confirmed over 200 people dead, scores missing, and more than 500 homes lost. Hundreds took shelter in makeshift camps at schools and religious centers, relying on donations of food, clothes, and bedding.
Bago’s Response: The ₦1 billion Flood Relief Fund
Governor Bago moved fast. Recognising the scale of human suffering, he approved an immediate ₦1 billion flood relief package dedicated to:
Cash support and food supplies
– Cash support for families who lost loved ones.
– Food: over 50 trucks loaded with rice, maize, millet, sorghum and essentials.
– Medical care for injured survivors.
– Temporary shelter, mattresses, and clean water for displaced households.
Transparent distribution
Distribution was handled directly by Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) teams in partnership with community heads and local government chairmen to avoid diversion or ghost beneficiaries. Bago personally warned traditional rulers and community leaders: funds and food must reach genuine victims — or else.
Immediate action
He visited the worst‑hit communities, standing knee‑deep in muddy debris, comforting families who lost everything, and pledging that every widow, orphan, and surviving child would get help. Payments to survivors started within 72 hours, and daily relief trucks restocked local camps. By early June, over 3,000 displaced people at Tiffin Madza Primary School had received food and basic health supplies.
Infrastructure Solution: ₦7 billion Road & Bridge Project
Emergency aid handles today’s pain. But what about tomorrow? Mokwa’s only reliable road link to Rabba collapsed, stranding farmers and traders. Without it, food supplies and access to hospitals vanished.
Governor Bago awarded a ₦7 billion contract to immediately rebuild:
Scope of work
– 12 kilometres of road from Mokwa to Rabba.
– Four new bridges engineered for flood resistance.
– Proper culverts and drainage to prevent repeat washouts.
Execution plan
Construction began in early June with reputable local contractors under supervision of the Niger State Ministry of Works. Environmental engineers are guiding the design to withstand future flash floods.
Purpose
Bago tied this road revamp directly to Mokwa’s recovery: reconnect farms, rebuild local businesses, and prevent price shocks on food. For thousands of families, it’s more than tar and concrete — it’s the road back to income, schools, and hospitals.
How the Relief & Road Projects Work Together
This dual approach — emergency relief plus permanent infrastructure — is rare in local governance, where disaster response often stops at food donations.
Short term: The ₦1 billion fund keeps displaced families fed and sheltered while resettlement plans get underway.
Medium term: The ₦7 billion road and bridges restore movement for food traders, emergency services, and daily life, reducing economic strain.
Long term: Both projects fit into Bago’s Green Economy Blueprint: a strategy to make Niger State’s communities more climate‑resilient through better drainage, embankments, and urban planning.
By tying relief directly to rebuilding, Bago aims to break the cycle of “disaster–donation–disaster again” that drains state budgets and traps communities in fear.
Voices from the Ground
Official account
Dr. Ibrahim Hussaini, Acting DG of NSEMA, described the aftermath as massive. He noted that many residents were traumatised and reluctant to abandon their community ties, even in camps. “People lost their lives, their properties, and their ways of livelihood.… Many are disturbed psychologically… the situation is massive.”
Survivor story
Adamu Yusuf, 36, stood among debris where his home once stood, sharing the harrowing loss of nine family members swept away. “She was the one that woke me up… As we stepped outside, we saw water everywhere… I watched helplessly as water washed away my family. I survived because I could swim. It was God that saved me.” He has nothing left but borrowed clothes, and speaks of survival and faith.
Shared community grief
In Tiffin Maza, survivors like Farida Auwalu lost seven children. Nineteen‑year‑old Isa Muhammed grieves his teacher and friends: “I haven’t been able to sleep since.” Sixty‑five‑year‑old Ramat Sulaiman mourns 100 Quranic school students killed when their school collapsed: “It was a painful sight… children cried for help, but no one could do anything.” Amid ruined roofs and shallow graves, the community clings to hope to bury their dead properly and rebuild stronger.
Partnerships & Support Systems
Federal government
On June 4, Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Mokwa and pledged an extra ₦2 billion plus 20 trucks of grains as part of national disaster readiness.
State leadership
Governor Bago demanded total transparency, ordering all donations be tracked to real recipients, and urged religious schools to maintain detailed student lists to prevent missing children.
Political contributions
Senator Mohammed Sani Musa donated ₦50 million and arranged more food trucks. He called on private companies to support: “In times of hardship, our shared humanity and unity are our greatest strengths.”
NGO & community efforts
Groups like Environment Watch pressed for flood defenses and accountability. Volunteers and local chiefs ran rescue, food sharing, and medical efforts day and night.
Collaborative impact
Federal: ₦2 bn + 20 trucks of grains = large‑scale shelter and food.
State: ₦1 bn + food trucks = transparent aid, fast resettlement.
Senator: ₦50 m + grains = extra resources and community morale.
NGOs/Volunteers: advocacy + on‑ground support = rapid help and accountability.
Implications & Next Steps
Short term (1–3 months)
IDP camp at Tiffin Madza closes by end‑June; families receive rent stipends for temporary housing. Land is allocated and Certificates of Occupancy issued, allowing permanent home construction. Road and bridge works are underway.
Mid‑term (3–12 months)
Permanent homes with drainage, schools, and clinics take shape. The road and bridges near completion, reconnecting Mokwa’s economy. Waterway surveys and floodplain audits guide smart relocation.
Long‑term (1–5 years)
New flood‑safe settlements materialize under Bago’s Green Economy Blueprint. His broader goal is building 100,000 climate‑ready homes across Niger State. Climate‑smart agriculture and proper embankments protect Mokwa and neighbouring areas.
The challenge
Completing resettlement, funding continuity, transparent oversight, and local involvement are essential to prevent slipping back into vulnerability.
A New Chapter for Mokwa & Beyond
You’ve walked through the tragedy of late May 2025 — the flood that claimed more than 200 lives, destroyed livelihoods, and exposed deep vulnerabilities. You’ve seen how Governor Bago matched immediate compassion with long‑term resolve: ₦1 billion in direct relief, 50 trucks of food, and a ₦7 billion contract for a stronger, safer road and four bridges.
This is more than rebuilding bridges and roofs. It’s a test case for how local leadership, national support, and community spirit can break the cycle of helplessness in the face of climate disasters. Mokwa’s comeback could light the way for other flood‑prone towns across Nigeria.
If fully realised, this is how a region rises: from grief, through solidarity, towards resilience.
May Mokwa’s new roads carry not just vehicles, but hope — stronger and flood‑proofed, this time for good.
