The Northern Senators Forum has asked the Federal Government and Niger State Government to develop a permanent response to recurring flooding in Shiroro, Minna and other vulnerable communities.
The lawmakers said repeated floods had caused deaths, destroyed homes and farms and displaced residents, making annual emergency relief inadequate.
Forum Chairman Abdulaziz Yar’adua called for a comprehensive Shiroro Flood Management Master Plan.
The senators also requested a review of the operations of the Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba dams, along with permanent flood forecasting and early warning systems.
They said communities in the most exposed floodplains should be considered for structured resettlement where necessary.
The forum commended the National Emergency Management Agency and Niger State Emergency Management Agency for their response to recent flooding.
It nevertheless said humanitarian assistance should be combined with long term engineering, environmental and land management measures.
The senators called for immediate relief materials and temporary shelters with health and sanitation services for verified victims.
They also urged federal, state and local authorities to coordinate their planning and create a sustainable system for reducing the impact of future floods.
The forum said protecting lives and livelihoods required moving from repeated emergency response toward prevention and resilience.
