One year after the devastating flood that tore through Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, the memories remain fresh for survivors who lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods in one of the state’s deadliest natural disasters.
Although the floodwaters have long receded, DAILY POST reports that the scars remain.
Hundreds of affected families are still struggling to rebuild their lives, critical infrastructure has yet to be fully restored, while questions over the management of billions of naira and relief materials donated for victims continue to generate public debate.
The people of Mokwa say what they seek is more than sympathy.
They are looking for visible progress on reconstruction, renewed means of livelihood and answers to concerns surrounding interventions announced in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Communities still counting their losses
While communities such as Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa suffered devastating loss of lives and property during the May 29, 2025 flood, residents of Rabba have continued to battle another consequence of the disaster, the collapse of the bridge linking the community to Mokwa and neighbouring settlements.
One year after the disaster, residents say life has remained difficult as farmers struggle to move produce to markets, traders spend more time and money accessing neighbouring communities, while school children and patients rely on a temporary wooden bridge constructed through communal efforts.
To mark one year since the disaster, youths, elders and community leaders organised a peaceful solidarity march and prayer session on May 29, 2026, calling on the Niger State Government to fulfil its promise of reconstructing the bridge.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Please Bago Fix Our Bridge,” “Fulfil Your Promise, We’re Disconnected,” and “Today Makes One Year of Disaster,” the protesters appealed for urgent intervention.
Speaking during the procession, a community leader, Alhaji Usman Ndagba, described the bridge as the lifeline of the community.
He said although residents appreciated the financial support earlier provided by the state government to maintain the temporary wooden bridge, only a permanent structure would restore normal economic and social activities.
The flood that changed lives
On May 29, 2025, torrential rainfall triggered a devastating flash flood that swept through Mokwa, washing away entire neighbourhoods, destroying homes and businesses and leaving hundreds of families in mourning.
Official figures indicated that more than 200 people lost their lives, while thousands were displaced and hundreds of houses, schools, markets, farmlands and other public infrastructure were destroyed.
The disaster attracted nationwide sympathy, prompting interventions from the Federal Government, the Niger State Government, corporate organisations, politicians, development partners and private individuals.
Billions of naira and thousands of bags of food items were announced to support victims and assist in rebuilding the affected communities.
Billions raised for victims
According to records released by the Niger State Government after the disaster, cash donations were paid into the Niger State Emergency Distress Account.
Government records indicated that more than N5 billion was received through the account from governments, corporate organisations, institutions and individuals.
Among the major donations announced were:
Federal Government N2 billion and 20 trucks of grains.
Niger State Government N1 billion and 50 trucks of assorted food items.
First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu N1 billion.
Senator Abubakar Sani Bello N50 million.
Senator Sani Musa (313) N50 million, 800 bags of maize, 100 bags of millet and 300 bags of rice.
Niger State First Lady and Family- N50 million.
Taraba State Government N50 million.
Vinicius International Limited N50 million.
Hon. Saidu Musa Abdul N20 million.
Peter Obi N20 million.
Alhaji Idris Mohammed Malagi N20 million.
Niger Foods N20 million and 1,000 bags of rice.
Arab Contractors N20 million.
Barrister Mahmud Abubakar Magaji (SAN) N20 million.
Pink Pearl International Limited- N10 million.
Sammya Nigeria Limited -N10 million.
Top Desk International Limited N10 million.
Kiara Rice Mills 1,000 bags of 25kg rice.
Several other organisations, companies and well-meaning Nigerians also contributed cash, food items and other relief materials in support of victims.
However, despite the volume of donations announced, the Niger State Government has not publicly disclosed the total number of victims who received cash compensation or the total amount disbursed, a situation that has continued to fuel calls for greater transparency.
“Many victims are still waiting”
For many survivors, the passage of one year has done little to ease their pain.
Chairman of the Mokwa Support Group Flood Local Committee, Dauda Liman, said many genuine victims remain displaced despite repeated promises of assistance from the government.
According to him, another verification exercise requested by the government was completed and submitted in November 2025, but affected residents are yet to receive any feedback.
Liman also alleged that although 50 trucks of food items were promised to victims, only 30 trucks were delivered.
“Some people benefited, but many genuine victims have not received anything.
“Some are still around the flood-affected communities because they have nowhere else to go. We have continued to encourage them to remain patient, hoping the government will fulfil its promises,” he said.
Allegations over doctored beneficiary lists
The committee’s Public Relations Officer, Fatima Mohammed Goro, also questioned the process that produced the final list of beneficiaries.
She alleged that names submitted after a house-to-house verification exercise conducted by members of the committee were altered before payments were made.
According to her, genuine victims were omitted from the final list, while names of persons not affected by the disaster allegedly appeared as beneficiaries.
“We visited every affected household and submitted accurate information to the government.
“Unfortunately, many of the names were changed before payments were made. Those additions denied genuine victims the opportunity to benefit,” she alleged.
Also, Vice Chairman of the committee, Ibrahim Abubakar Mokwa, shared similar concerns, alleging that many of the authentic names submitted by the committee did not appear on the final list used for disbursement.
“I lost nine members of my family” – Abdullahi
For Yahuza Abdullahi, memories of the disaster remain painful.
He said he lost nine members of his family, including two children, while his house and other belongings were washed away by the flood.
Despite his losses, Abdullahi said he received N500,000 from the government.
“I lost everything. I expected more support after what happened to my family. Many victims are still waiting for the houses that were promised after the flood.
“We also heard that some people who were not affected received money, while many genuine victims were left out,” he lamented.
Another survivor, Shamsiya Umar, claimed she lost both her home and business and has been struggling to rebuild her life without any meaningful support.
Donors also demand accountability
Beyond concerns raised by victims, some donors have also called for greater transparency in the management of relief interventions.
The NAMI Support Organisation urged the Niger State Government to publish a comprehensive account of donations received after alleging that contributions made by its principal, Muhammad Mamman Nami, comprising N10 million in cash and relief materials valued at N20 million, were omitted from the official donor list released by the state government.
The organisation said publishing a comprehensive account of all donations would strengthen public confidence and assure contributors that their interventions reached the intended beneficiaries.
ADC candidate joins calls for transparency
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Niger State, Dr. Mohammed MK Kpautagi, also called for greater transparency in the management of donations made for victims of the Mokwa flood.
In a statement, Kpautagi questioned why many victims were still lamenting neglect one year after the disaster despite the billions of naira reportedly donated by governments, corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians.
Displaying what he described as a compilation of donations made after the flood, the ADC flag bearer alleged that more than N4.9 billion in cash, alongside thousands of bags of food items and other relief materials, had been contributed by governments, financial institutions, companies and individuals.
He urged the Niger State Government to provide a comprehensive account of all cash and material donations received and how they were distributed to victims.
“It is regrettable and unfortunate that after receiving billions of naira in donations, many victims still have nothing to show for it apart from the pains inflicted by the disaster,” he said.
Kpautagi maintained that victims deserved full accountability, insisting that transparency would not only restore public confidence but also honour the sacrifices made by donors who contributed to support the affected communities.
Petitioners seek ICPC investigation
The controversy has also taken a legal dimension.
A copy of a petition made available to DAILY POST showed that Isah Abubakar, popularly known as “Senator Isah”, alongside two flood victims, Mallam Hussaini Umar Kwangila and Mr. Bilyaminu Umar, petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The petition, dated June 26, 2026, and signed by their legal counsel, urged the commission to investigate alleged diversion, mismanagement and other alleged corrupt practices relating to cash donations and relief materials meant for victims of the flood.
The petitioners requested the anti-corruption agency to investigate the management and disbursement of interventions announced after the disaster and ensure anyone found culpable is held accountable.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no public indication that the ICPC had responded to the petition or announced any investigation into the allegations.
Housing project offers fresh hope
Amid the concerns over relief distribution, there are indications that the long-awaited housing project for displaced victims is beginning to take shape.
About three weeks ago (early June), the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of permanent houses for victims of the flood.
The houses are to be built on a new site located after the railway line near the Mokwa Cattle Ranch following the rejection of the initial location allegedly proposed at Bokani Junction along Mokwa Road near Niger Foods by affected residents.
It was gathered that the Niger State Government, through the Ministry of Lands, later surveyed and measured the new site before handing it over for the NEMA-designed housing project.
Sources familiar with the project told DAILY POST that the contractor has since been mobilised to site and has carried out preliminary activities, including feasibility studies and environmental impact assessment.
The sources added that equipment and construction materials are being assembled, while arrangements are being made for workers’ accommodation ahead of full construction.
However, some residents remain sceptical.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, described the mobilisation as “mere propaganda.”
According to him, apart from the groundbreaking ceremony, soil testing and preliminary site activities, no visible construction work has commenced.
“Is the foundation laying the actual work? Since the contractor came for the visibility study and soil testing, nothing has happened. We are waiting to see how far they will go,” he said.
However, sources familiar with the project maintained that the activities currently taking place are standard pre-construction procedures that must be completed before physical construction begins.
NSEMA explains its role
Responding to concerns over the management of relief funds, the Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, Dr. Ibrahim Hussaini, told DAILY POST that the agency was not responsible for handling cash donations received after the flood. .
According to him, the flood intervention was not domiciled under the agency, adding that all financial aspects relating to donations were handled by the Niger State Ministry of Finance.
Hussaini said NSEMA’s responsibility was limited to verifying beneficiaries for government-approved interventions .
He explained that victims whose houses were completely destroyed were approved to receive N1 million, comprising N500,000 as immediate support and another N500,000 pending the construction of permanent houses promised by the Federal Government.
He added that victims whose houses were affected but not destroyed received N500,000, while families of deceased victims were approved to receive N1 million for each life lost.
According to him, “After the community initially compiled the list of beneficiaries, NSEMA conducted a verification exercise.
“Thereafter, another committee comprising officials from the Planning, Commission led by Dr. Abdul Husaini and Architect Bako, alongside officials of the agency, carried out another round of verification before payments were approved”.
He also confirmed that the housing project was relocated after victims rejected the earlier site proposed near Bokani Junction, leading to the selection of another location closer to Mokwa Cattle Ranch.
Government yet to respond
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Chairman of the Mokwa Flood Relief Committee and Deputy Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba, through his Press Secretary, Ummulkhaltume Abdullahi Kuta, did not yield a substantive response.
She told DAILY POST that she had no information on the issues raised and referred this reporter to NSEMA.
Similarly, efforts to obtain the reaction of the Niger State Commissioner for Finance, whom NSEMA identified as being responsible for the financial management of the flood donations, were unsuccessful.
Waiting for recovery
While the housing project has rekindled hope that displaced victims may finally have permanent shelter, many residents insist that recovery goes beyond building houses.
They say rebuilding damaged infrastructure, restoring livelihoods, addressing the concerns of those who believe they were left out of relief interventions and providing a transparent account of donations made in the wake of the disaster are all essential to helping affected communities move forward.
They are waiting for promises made in the aftermath of the tragedy to translate into visible action, convinced that true recovery will only come when every commitment made to them is fulfilled.
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