Flood: Nasarawa Moves to Relocate Residents from High-Risk Areas

The Nasarawa State Government says it will enforce the relocation of residents living in flood-prone areas to prevent loss of lives and property as the 2026 rainy season commenced. Princess Margaret Elayo, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, disclosed this on Saturday in Lafia while addressing journalists after the April sanitation exercise. Elayo said the […]

The Nasarawa State Government says it will enforce the relocation of residents living in flood-prone areas to prevent loss of lives and property as the 2026 rainy season commenced.

Princess Margaret Elayo, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, disclosed this on Saturday in Lafia while addressing journalists after the April sanitation exercise.

Elayo said the government had identified high-risk communities across Doma, Nasarawa, Toto, Awe, and Lafia Local Government Areas that experience annual flooding from the River Benue and its tributaries.

She said the move became necessary following predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and past experiences where lives and property were lost to flooding.

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“We are partnering with the Chairmen of Local Government Areas and traditional rulers to show those affected by this relocation directive where they should go for safety,” she said.

“They should pick up their valuables and leave their houses for now so that when flooding eventually happens, no lives will be lost,” Elayo added.

The commissioner urged members of the public to desist from dumping refuse in drains and from building structures on waterways to avert flooding.

She promised to strengthen awareness campaigns to enlighten the public on the importance of clearing waterways to prevent flooding.

“We have engaged traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, and we are sponsoring sensitisation programmes in the mass media to enlighten the public on the dangers of flooding and steps to avert it,” she said.

On the April sanitation exercise, Elayo expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by residents and appealed for more cooperation to guard against outbreaks of diseases.

“If the environment is kept clean, it will guard against a possible outbreak of any disease, thereby ensuring improved healthy living of the people,” she said.

Meanwhile, Abubakar Mohammed, Chief Prosecuting Officer of the ministry, said 106 persons were arrested across the state for violating sanitation laws.

Mohammed said the offenders were arrested for transacting private business while the sanitation exercise was in progress.

He said the defaulters were prosecuted by various mobile courts because their actions violated the provisions of Section 9 (2) of the State Environmental Sanitation Law.