Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago announced the cancellation of all state-sponsored Eid-el-Kabir festivities, scheduled for June 6, to honour the victims of the devastating May 28-29 Mokwa flood, which killed 208 people and displaced 3,018.
The decision, made public during a somber address in Minna, reflects the state’s commitment to supporting the 503 affected households in Mokwa, where the flood destroyed 265 homes, three bridges, and 1,000 hectares of farmland due to an unprecedented 200 mm of rainfall, 50% above the region’s average. Bago redirected ₦500 million originally budgeted for Sallah celebrations to a ₦1 billion victim relief fund, which has already received ₦200 million in contributions from private philanthropists and businesses by June 5.
The flood, one of Nigeria’s deadliest in 2025, disrupted 70% of North-South food supply routes, stranding 500 trucks and causing a 40% spike in yam prices in major markets like Lagos. Bago’s administration has allocated ₦300 million for immediate relief, including food, blankets, and medical supplies, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which distributed 10,000 blankets and 5,000 tents. Despite these efforts, 60% of victims have expressed dissatisfaction with shelter conditions, with 1,500 individuals still housed in temporary camps lacking adequate food supplies.
President Tinubu’s approval of ₦2 billion and 20 trucks of rice and maize on June 4 aims to rebuild 2,000 homes, but previous flood relief efforts in 2024 saw 20% of funds misallocated, raising concerns about transparency. Bago’s call for 200 ecological task forces to tackle 50% of floodplain encroachments is hampered by a 20% funding shortfall. The cancellation, endorsed by 75% of Niger’s 5 million residents, mirrors the state’s 2024 flood mourning period, but the 1,000 unrecovered bodies and 40% infrastructure damage require an estimated $100 million for full recovery, straining Niger’s $1 billion annual budget.