Reps Urge FG To Send Relief To Niger Rainstorm Victims

The House of Representatives on Tuesday called on the federal government to urgently provide relief materials to victims of a devastating rainstorm that recently struck Mokwa, a commercial community in Niger State.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the member representing Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency, Joshua Gana, during plenary.

Moving the motion, Gana described Mokwa as a major commercial and transit hub that was severely impacted by a violent rainstorm accompanied by strong winds, leaving a trail of destruction.

“The House is aware that the disaster led to the collapse of residential buildings, displacement of families, destruction of personal belongings, and disruption of economic and educational activities at the Niger State University of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Mokwa, leaving students in a harsh environment,” he said.

He added that early reports indicated significant casualties and widespread humanitarian needs.

“We are aware that preliminary reports indicate that lives were lost, many persons sustained injuries, and hundreds of residents have been rendered homeless and are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Critical infrastructure, including roads, electricity poles, schools, and healthcare facilities, was not spared, thereby compounding the hardship faced by the affected communities,” Gana stated.

The lawmaker also raised concerns over the growing frequency of such extreme weather events, linking them to broader environmental and climate-related challenges.

“We are concerned that the increasing frequency of such extreme weather events may be linked to broader environmental and climate-related challenges requiring proactive and coordinated government response,” he said.

Gana noted that many victims were currently exposed to harsh living conditions, lacking adequate shelter, food, medical care, and sanitation, while the response capacity of local and state emergency agencies had been overstretched.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House urged the National Emergency Management Agency to work with the Niger State Emergency Management Agency to carry out a comprehensive damage assessment and immediately provide relief materials, including food, temporary shelter, and medical supplies.

Lawmakers also mandated the relevant committees on emergency and disaster preparedness, as well as the environment, to liaise with appropriate agencies to ensure both immediate intervention and long-term rehabilitation for affected communities.

In addition, the House called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to include the victims in its intervention programmes, while urging the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, in collaboration with the Niger State Government, to assess and rehabilitate damaged infrastructure.

The lawmakers further tasked the Nigerian Meteorological Agency to improve early warning systems through timely weather forecasts and increased public awareness on extreme weather conditions.