More than 100 lives were lost in the recent Mokwa flood disaster in Niger State, and a non-governmental organisation, Environment Watch, has placed the blame squarely on the federal government’s failure to implement the Ministry of Works’ 2025 budget.
According to the organisation, five months into the year, there has been little to no progress in launching projects earmarked for flood control and infrastructure repair. During a visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Mokwa, the group’s Programme Manager, Haruna Ndazogi, expressed deep frustration over the stalled efforts, calling out Minister of Works, David Umahi, for not initiating the procurement process despite available funds and approved plans.
Ndazogi explained that while other ministries and agencies have started executing their 2025 projects, the Ministry of Works has lagged behind, leaving essential roads, culverts, and drainage systems untouched. He stressed that the lack of early action contributed directly to the scale of destruction in Mokwa.
He also disclosed that members of the National Assembly confirmed the inclusion of several erosion control and bridge rehabilitation projects in the budget as constituency efforts. However, none have moved beyond paperwork due to implementation delays.
The group accused Minister Umahi of prioritising the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road at the expense of more urgent infrastructure needs across flood-prone areas. They warned that unless the government acts swiftly, similar tragedies could occur in other regions as the rainy season intensifies.
Environment Watch urged President Bola Tinubu to remove cabinet members who are underperforming, warning that continued inaction could derail national development plans and put more lives at risk.
