The recent flood disaster in Mokwa, Niger State, has sparked nationwide concern, especially among farmers who fear a repeat of last year’s devastating losses.
The Mokwa floods, considered one of the worst in decades, have become a chilling reminder of just how destructive Nigeria’s rainy season can be.
With more rainfall predicted in the coming weeks, anxiety is rising in states flagged for high flood risk. Farmers are especially worried. Many still remember how badly floods hit in 2024, wiping out entire farms and pushing millions into deeper food insecurity. Over 90% of crop-farming households and 76% of livestock farmers were affected, with 2.5 million people impacted overall. About 200,000 were displaced, and the damages were staggering.
From Bauchi to Taraba, Jigawa to Niger, farmlands disappeared under water. Bauchi lost more than 50,000 hectares of crops, while Taraba lost over 22,000. In Jigawa alone, nearly 10,000 hectares were destroyed. Some farmers reported crop losses exceeding ₦1 billion in value. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an estimated 855,629 metric tonnes of food were lost—enough to feed 8.5 million Nigerians for six months.
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That scale of loss didn’t just hurt farmers—it drove up food prices across the country and worsened already severe food insecurity. Now, with similar rainfall patterns expected this year, many fear a repeat or even worse.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, didn’t sugarcoat the outlook during a press briefing following the Mokwa floods. He warned that the rains are far from over and urged all states, local governments, and communities to act fast. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), in its 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), had already flagged 1,249 communities in 176 local government areas across 33 states, including the FCT, as high-risk zones.
In addition, another 2,187 communities across 293 LGAs were classified as moderately at risk. The list includes densely populated states like Lagos, Kano, and Rivers, as well as key agricultural belts in the North and South.
The warning is clear: if adequate precautions aren’t taken, Nigeria could be facing another major blow to its food production and economy. Farmers are calling for real action—better early warning systems, community-level support, and immediate infrastructure repairs. Without these, the floods may do more than damage land—they could drown hopes for national food stability.
