Niger State has opened bids for a major erosion control and flood mitigation project in Mokwa, nearly a year after a devastating flood swept through the area and destroyed homes, livelihoods and critical infrastructure. The move signals a shift from emergency response to long-term recovery, as the government seeks to rebuild the community and protect it against future disasters.
The project centres on the construction of stormwater drainage structures at the Mokwa gully erosion sites, and forms part of a broader intervention that officials describe as a major flood mitigation effort. With the opening of bids, the state has taken a concrete step towards awarding the contract and beginning the physical works on the ground.
The memories of the flood still linger in Mokwa, where the disaster of last year changed the landscape and left a lasting mark on residents. Homes, livelihoods and essential infrastructure were swept away, and the recovery has since become one of the priorities for the state authorities.
According to the state project coordinator, Raji Shehu, investigations show that the disaster was triggered by a combination of natural factors and human activities. He pointed in particular to the obstruction and encroachment on natural waterways, which worsened the impact of the heavy rains when they came.
An earlier procurement process for the stormwater drainage component had reached the contractor selection stage, but the scale of the flood prompted the government to suspend the contract award and carry out a fresh technical assessment. The aim was to ensure that the new design would adequately address the magnitude of the disaster.
That review significantly expanded the scope of the intervention. Officials from the department of climate change explained that the original drainage design, of about 5.7 kilometres, has now been extended to around 17 kilometres, with wider and deeper channels intended to improve the discharge of floodwater during heavy rainfall.
Beyond the engineering works, the authorities are also stepping up community engagement, including the inauguration of a climate change committee to educate residents in flood-prone communities on environmental protection. Backed by 10 million dollars in World Bank support, the project is designed to deliver reinforced concrete stormwater channels that can safely carry heavy rainfall, curb erosion and strengthen Mokwa's resilience against future flooding.