Minna: The North South Power Company Limited (NSPCL), operator of the Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Station, has urged residents of flood-prone communities in Niger to heed early warning messages to minimise the impact of flooding during the 2026 rainy season. Mr Olubunmi Peters, Executive Vice Chairman of NSPCL, made the call at the company’s annual stakeholders’ flood sensitisation and awareness forum in Minna on Thursday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Peters, represented by Alhaji Abdullahi Hassan, Consultant on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the company, said the forum was organised to sensitise upstream and downstream host communities on flood risks and measures to mitigate loss of lives and property. He emphasized the need to educate residents, fishermen, and other users of water bodies on the environmental hazards associated with flooding and the importance of adopting preventive measures.
Peters highlighted the necessity of the sensitisation initiative, noting that the company may nee
d to release excess water from the Shiroro Dam when reservoir levels exceed safe operating limits. The annual engagement aims to prepare communities for such releases, preventing panic and ensuring timely evacuation if needed. He also suggested the establishment of a dedicated flood management agency in Niger, pointing out that despite having more dams than Oyo State, Niger lacks a specialised institution for flood management coordination.
Earlier, Mr Ugochukwu Chioke, Chief Operating Officer of NSPCL, stressed the critical nature of implementing agreed flood safety measures to reduce the impact of annual flooding on host communities. He noted the challenge of residents returning to flood plains for fertile land, despite the risks. Chioke recommended the cultivation of quick-yielding crops to allow harvest before the flood season begins.
Alhaji Hussaini Isah, Head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Minna Operations Office, identified local government areas likely to experience varying degree
s of flooding based on the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook by NiMet and NIHSA. These areas include Agaie, Bida, Borgu, Edati, Gbako, Katcha, Lapai, Lavun, Magama, Mashegu, Mokwa, and Shiroro.
Prof. Danladi Hakimi, Chairman of the Dam Host Communities Committee, advocated for stronger collaboration between organisations operating in the area and host communities. Represented by the committee’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Mohammed She, Hakimi urged organisations to engage community leaders through the committee before executing projects in their communities.
The forum saw participation from representatives of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), NiMet, NIHSA, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), emergency management agencies, and traditional institutions.