Mokwa Flooding Disaster – A Call for Climate Justice and Immediate Action

Surge Africa extends its condolences to the people of Mokwa, Niger State, following the devastating flood that struck on May 29, 2025. With at least 151 lives lost and more than 3,000 families displaced, entire communities were submerged overnight. This disaster is not just a natural occurrence; it is a tragedy worsened by policy failures, environmental neglect, and a lack of climate resilience.

Niger State is prone to flooding, yet every year, governments treat such events as "acts of God" instead of consequences of poor planning, deforestation, weak infrastructure, and climate neglect. The destruction of two critical bridges, including a major link between Northern and Southwestern Nigeria, highlights how environmental mismanagement can paralyze economies and endanger lives.

While we acknowledge the President’s directive for emergency response, the significant loss of life reveals a deeper failure: the absence of proactive governance. Where were the flood defenses? The functioning drainage systems? The urban development plans that take changing weather patterns into account? When prevention is possible, simply responding is not enough!

We Urgently Call For the Following:

1. Emergency Humanitarian Relief with Dignity – Immediate, well-coordinated aid that prioritizes clean water, medical care, and safe shelters.  

2. Restore with Resilience – Rebuild the destroyed bridges to higher climate-resilient standards, rather than implementing quick fixes.  

3. Transparent Accountability – Conduct a public audit into the lack of early warning systems and the collapse of critical infrastructure.  

4. Climate Justice Framework for Mokwa – Develop long-term flood prevention policies, initiate reforestation efforts, and ensure fair compensation for displaced residents.

This is not just about Mokwa; it reflects what might await other vulnerable communities across Nigeria if the climate crisis continues to be ignored. 

We must stop treating floods as acts of God and start recognising them as the consequences of human inaction. Climate justice is not optional—it is overdue.