Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has called for expanded rescue efforts and increased preparedness across the country

The death toll from flooding in central Nigeria has reached 153, local authorities confirmed on Saturday, as search-and-rescue efforts continue.

The updated figures were provided by Ibrahim Hussaini, head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), who said the disaster in the town of Mokwa followed heavy rains that began late Wednesday and lasted into Thursday.

Hussaini reported that at least 3,018 people had been displaced, with 503 households and 265 homes impacted. Three communities were completely washed away, he added.

In response to the disaster, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) convened a stakeholder meeting in Niger State on Friday.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has directed NEMA and national security forces to step up search-and-rescue operations in the affected zones. Alongside emergency response efforts, Tinubu has ordered the National Orientation Agency to intensify public awareness campaigns in flood-prone areas to improve preparedness and response for future disasters.

In April, the minister of water resources and sanitation, Joseph Utsev, identified 32 Nigerian states and the FCT as high flood-risk zones, warning that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of flooding. He highlighted coastal and riverine areas, including the states of Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, and Rivers, as particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and tidal surges, which could affect fishing, wildlife, and navigation.

Mokwa, located in Niger State, serves as a vital trade corridor connecting agricultural producers in the north with traders in the south.

Nigeria is prone to flooding during its rainy season, which typically begins in April. 

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Last September, dozens of people were killed and others trapped after devastating floods swept through Nigeria's northeastern Borno State. Sirajo Garba, the northeast zonal coordinator for NEMA, said over 1,000 people had been rescued, and that more than 70,000 displaced persons were staying in seven camps.