Unprecedented flash floods hit central Nigeria

On 28 May 2025, the town of Mokwa in central Nigeria was struck by torrential rains that triggered deadly flash floods, causing widespread destruction and loss of life in the region near the River Niger.

The disaster claimed the lives of more than 150 people, with officials warning that the death toll may continue to rise.

According to Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), over 3 000 people have been displaced, 265 homes have been completely destroyed, and two major bridges have been swept away. At least 78 people were hospitalized, and 50 schoolchildren remain missing.

Nigeria experiences flooding annually, primarily due to heavy rainfall and inadequate infrastructure. In addition to the effects of climate change, the severity of flooding is exacerbated by poor drainage systems, the construction of homes on natural watercourses, and the indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and waterways. In 2024 alone, floods claimed 321 lives across 34 of the country’s 36 states.