There is growing apprehension across Kebbi State following fresh warnings by the Federal Government of Nigeria about the likelihood of severe flooding in 2025.
Recall that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, in its 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction, SCP, identified Kebbi as one of the several states expected to witness above-normal rainfall.
This, DAILY POST observed, has heightened fears of another devastating flood season among residents of the ‘Land of Equity’.
Kebbi State’s vulnerability to flooding is well documented.
In 2015, about 25,950 people across 12 local government areas were affected by flood, leading to the destruction of 5,495 houses and submerging of over 37,610 hectares of farmland.
The 2020 flood remains one of the worst in the history of the state, following torrential rainfall and water released from upstream dams, which led to the destruction of critical infrastructure and the loss of at least eight lives in Jega Local Government Area of the state.
Thousands of hectares of rice farms, the state’s economic backbone, were washed away, leading to losses worth billions of naira.
Similarly, in 2022, Kebbi was again severely hit as part of nationwide flooding, with over 600 lives lost across Nigeria and 1.3 million people displaced.
Kebbi’s agricultural and residential communities bore the brunt of the disaster.
The 2024 flood further deepened the state’s woes. Heavy rains left 30 people dead, 321,000 houses destroyed, and submerged about 858,000 hectares of farmland, igniting fresh fears about the sustainability of food production and the security of rural communities.
In response to the recent warnings by NiMet, the Kebbi State Government said it has activated its emergency response mechanisms.
The Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Musa Muhammad Tungulawa, recently announced that flood-prone areas across the state were being identified for immediate intervention.
He stated, “We are working closely with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and other partners to provide early warning systems, sensitize residents, and clear water channels before the rains become intense.”
Tungulawa added that the government has also procured relief materials, boats for emergency evacuation and medical supplies in anticipation of possible displacement.
Also, the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, has embarked on sensitisation campaigns in riverine and lowland communities, educating residents on evacuation plans and safety protocols.
Despite these efforts, residents said more proactive measures were needed.
According to them, many communities were yet to see tangible infrastructure improvements such as drainage rehabilitation, river dredging or embankment fortification.
Speaking with DAILY POST in Birnin Kebbi, residents expressed deep concern over the looming flood threat, recalling the havoc of previous years and urging authorities to buckle up.
Malam Usman Gwandu, a rice farmer from Argungu said, “I lost everything in 2020 when the flood destroyed my farmland. Even my house was partially submerged. Now they are saying it will happen again. We cannot survive another disaster like that.”
On her part, Aisha Bello, a mother of four, who is a native of Jega lamented that, “the fear is real. Every time it rains heavily, we start packing our things, expecting the worst. Government must do more than just warn us this year.”
Abdullahi Maigida, a trader in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital added, “It’s frightening because the last big flood displaced many families. If you visit the Rafin Atiku and Zauro areas today, you’ll still see people struggling to rebuild.
“We have children in our care, and each time there’s a flood, schools are shut and homes destroyed. Government needs to move from promises to actual action.”
Yakubu Tanko, a youth leader in Koko-Besse, noted, “We are calling on both the state and the federal government to desilt rivers, clear blocked drainages, and provide early warning systems before it’s too late.”
For a state historically plagued by flood-related disasters, the prediction has reawakened painful memories of past tragedies and left many residents anxious about what lies ahead.
