Riparian communities around the Shiroro Hydroelectric Power station in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State have been warned to stay away from the flood plains as the rain season approaches its peak.

The Chief Operating Officer of North South Power Company Ltd. (NSPCL) Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Station Engineer Ugochukwu Chioke gave the warning during the 2025 annual stakeholders flood sensitization workshop held in Minna.

He explained that the permanent solution to flooding in flood prone areas was for riparian dwellers to keep away from flood plains of the river.

“The permanent solution to flooding is for the riparian dwellers to keep away from the flood plains of the river because before any dam is established, flood plains of the river are mapped out.

“Therefore everybody within this area is compensated and expected to leave this area, no activities are supposed to go there,” he said.

Chioke emphasised that continuous sensitization was necessary to prevent communities from returning to flood-prone areas annually.

He said the stakeholders sensitization and awareness workshop aimed to enlighten participants on flood predictions, management and mitigation in the Kaduna River basin.

Also speaking In his opening remarks, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, North South Power Company Limited, Engineer Olubunmi Peters, said the workshop aims to sensitize and educate dwellers involved in any form of water based activities upstream and downstream of Shiroro hydro electric power plant.

“Through this workshop riparian communities will be sensitise on the environmental hazard caused by flooding and possible ways to reduce the devastating damages to lives and properties, ” he declared.

He said the workshop aimed to sensitise and educate communities on environmental hazards caused by flooding and possible ways to reduce the devastating damages to lives and property.

Olubunmi Peters who was represented by the Consultant on Corporate Social Responsibility for NSPCL, Hon. Hassan Abdullahi, said the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had issued a flood alert for July warning that twenty states including Niger were at risk of flash floods.

He called on stakeholders to develop strategies and find cost-effective solutions to curb flooding and urged the government to desilt gutters and flood channels as well as disseminate climate information to farmers.

In his presentation, Head, NEMA Minna Operations Office, Alhaji Hussaini Isah disclosed that 16 local government areas were at high risk of flooding from July to September this year in Niger State.

Also speaking, Chairman, Dam Host Committee, Prof. Danladi Hakimi said the workshop was timely with the view to sensitise communities to take caution on flood. (Nigerian Tribune)