Poor Railway Infrastructure Responsible For Mokwa Flooding-NIRSAL Boss

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhameed, has blamed poor railway infrastructure for the recent deadly flood in Mokwa, Niger State, which caused multiple deaths, destroyed farmland, and displaced residents.

Abdulhameed made the revelation in Abuja while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Hydrological Services and the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission HYPPADEC, Chaired by Paschal Agbodike.

Contrary to speculation that the flooding was caused by water release from the Kainji and Jebba dams, Abdulhameed said the primary cause was a blocked railway embankment in Mokwa.

“There is a railway embankment about four meters high that stopped water from draining into the River Niger. That was the only reason the flood happened,” he said. “It had nothing to do with Kainji or Jebba Dams — both are downstream.”

According to him, prior to the railway’s renovation in 2018–2019, the structure had functional drainage systems that allowed for water flow. But the outlets were completely blocked after reconstruction, causing water to accumulate over the years.

“By 2023, the pressure had become too great for the embankment, which lacked structural reinforcement. “It’s made entirely of soil. It couldn’t hold the water anymore and finally gave way, unleashing massive flooding on the community,” he said.

Abdulhameed also cited human activity as a factor, noting that people had settled along what they believed to be permanently dry riverbanks, increasing the impact of the flood.

To prevent future disasters, he said NIRSAL and the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) would launch a nationwide investigation into railway construction and its effects on natural waterways.

“I’ve met with the NRC Managing Director, and we are setting up a joint task force to inspect rail lines and highways to ensure waterways are not obstructed,” he said.

In response, the committee Chairman Pascal Agbodike summoned both the Managing Director of NRC and the Minister of Transportation to explain their role in the flood.

“We will not tolerate another flood-induced loss of life. Those responsible must be held accountable,” Agbodike said.

He also called for a coordinated national response to flooding, especially in vulnerable areas like Mokwa, Kanji, Jebba, Ihiala, and Ogbaru.

Agbodike outlined four key areas for flood mitigation: community awareness, early warning systems, infrastructure maintenance, and climate adaptation. He stressed the need for a unified approach involving government, development partners, and local communities.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji