By Baba Alfa, Minna
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has reported that more than 410 lives were lost in multiple disaster incidents across the state between 2024 and the first half of 2025.
The disclosure was made by NSEMA Director General, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah, during a media briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Minna on Sunday.
Arah stated that, despite the magnitude and frequency of disasters recorded within the period, NSEMA personnel had remained committed to their responsibilities, responding rapidly to emergencies and coordinating relief efforts in affected areas.
He recounted that the first major disaster in 2024 was a tanker explosion in Agaie, the administrative centre of Agaie Local Government Area. The incident claimed 60 lives and left eight others with varying degrees of injuries. He said the tragedy marked the start of a distressing pattern of emergencies that significantly strained the state’s response infrastructure.
One of the deadliest incidents, Arah explained, was the Diko tanker explosion which occurred on 18 January 2025, resulting in the death of more than 80 people. NSEMA, he noted, worked alongside public health agencies to deploy emergency teams and provide urgent support to survivors.
He also confirmed a dynamite explosion in Sabon Pegi, situated in Mariga Local Government Area. The blast killed two people and destroyed several residential buildings. In response, the state government provided relief materials and financial support to affected families to aid reconstruction.
Arah described the Mokwa flood disaster as the most devastating and most recent, with 270 fatalities and thousands forced from their homes. He said NSEMA led the emergency response, working with local government officials to dispatch rescue teams, distribute aid, and carry out post-impact assessments.
“The recent one is the Mokwa flood disaster which displaced thousands of people while 270 people lost their lives. NSEMA led the coordination, mobilised resources and deployed response teams in collaboration with the local government authorities,” he said.
To mitigate further losses as the rainy season approaches, Arah said the agency had launched its annual flood sensitisation campaign across the eight Emirate Councils in the state. The initiative includes the distribution of educational materials and the implementation of early warning strategies aimed at boosting public awareness on risk prevention.
In addition, Arah revealed that NSEMA had extended both cash and material assistance to victims of residential and commercial fire outbreaks in various local government areas over the past year.
These support packages, he said, were designed to cushion the economic impact on affected individuals and accelerate community recovery.
The NSEMA Director General reiterated the agency’s dedication to safeguarding lives and supporting communities affected by disasters. He appealed for stronger public cooperation, enhanced local engagement, and timely action to avert future tragedies across the state.
