Shiroro Dam to Release Water in Late September as Reservoir Rises, Communities Warned

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The North South Power Company Ltd. (NSPCL), operator of the Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Plant in Niger State, has announced plans for a controlled release of water from Shiroro Dam in the last week of September 2026.

The company said the timing of the release would depend on prevailing operational and hydrological conditions, but warned that the discharge could increase water levels downstream along affected sections of the river channel.

The warning was contained in a public safety notice issued in Minna on Thursday, September 10, and signed by Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar, General Manager, Plant Services, on behalf of NSPCL Chief Operating Officer, Ugochukwu Chioke.

NSPCL said the notice became necessary because of improved inflows into the River Kaduna catchment and Shiroro Reservoir, as well as forecasts indicating that significant inflows could continue during the rainy season.

The company said the controlled discharge is intended to support the safe management of the dam as reservoir levels rise.

However, communities living along the Kaduna River and other vulnerable areas downstream have been advised not to wait until the release begins before taking precautionary measures.

NSPCL specifically urged riverine residents, farmers, fishermen, boat operators and other people whose activities take place around the Kaduna River Basin to remain vigilant throughout the rainy season.

Residents were also advised to keep away from restricted areas around the dam and waterways and exercise caution in locations where changing water flows could create additional risks.

The company said its warning and sensitisation programme includes notifying traditional rulers, district and ward heads and relevant government agencies.

It also said flood-sensitisation workshops and public announcements would be carried out through television and radio in English, Gbagyi, Nupe and Hausa.

According to the company, a siren system capable of being heard within a reported 25-kilometre range would also be used, with the siren expected to sound for one hour before the release.

NSPCL said the water would be released gradually and urged community leaders to ensure that farmers and other residents operating in vulnerable floodplain areas receive the warning.

The company further advised members of the public not to circulate unverified information about the dam operation and encouraged residents to rely on official safety announcements.

The latest warning comes against the backdrop of repeated flooding in Niger State and previous alerts linked to water releases from major dams.

In October 2025, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) warned communities along the River Niger and River Kaduna to move to safer areas following notifications about excess-water releases from Shiroro, Kainji, Jebba and Zungeru dams.

NSEMA said the releases could contribute to the overflow of the rivers and urged people living in riverine areas to relocate to safer locations. The agency also reported that houses, farmlands, bridges and roads had been affected by flooding in several parts of the state.

The history has made communities around Shiroro particularly sensitive to dam-release warnings, especially during the peak of the rainy season.

A recent assessment of disaster risks in Niger State also identified flooding as a recurring hazard affecting communities along the Niger and Kaduna rivers, including Shiroro and other local government areas.

The latest NSPCL warning also comes weeks after the Northern Senators’ Forum called for a long-term strategy to tackle recurring flooding in Shiroro and other vulnerable communities in Niger State.

In August, the forum, led by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, called for the development of a Shiroro Flood Management Master Plan.

The proposed plan includes a scientifically determined flood-buffer strategy for the Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba dams, a permanent flood-forecasting and early-warning system supported by trained community volunteers, and a comprehensive floodplain resettlement programme.

The senators also called for an independent technical review of dam operations, reservoir capacity and spillway performance to determine how future releases can be better managed.

The lawmakers argued that recurring flooding requires more than emergency relief after disasters occur, stressing the need for advance planning, early warnings and safer settlements for vulnerable communities.

For communities downstream of Shiroro, the September announcement is primarily a precautionary warning rather than a declaration that flooding will occur.

NSPCL said the release would be controlled and dependent on operational and hydrological conditions. Nevertheless, the company has warned that downstream water levels could rise.

Residents in vulnerable riverine areas are therefore being encouraged to pay attention to official announcements, avoid risky activities close to waterways and follow instructions from emergency-management authorities.

Community leaders have also been urged to ensure that farmers, fishermen, boat operators and households in vulnerable locations receive timely information.

With the final week of September approaching, authorities and community leaders now face the task of ensuring that the warning reaches residents early enough for them to take appropriate precautions before any controlled discharge begins.