FG Issues Flood Warning for 11 States As Rains Intensify

The federal government has issued a fresh flood alert, warning that at least 11 states are likely to experience heavy flooding between July 16 and 20.

Usman Bokani, director of the National Flood Early Warning Centre at the federal ministry of environment, raised the alarm in a flood prediction notice issued on Wednesday.

According to the advisory, states expected to be affected include Adamawa, where communities such as Mubi are at risk, and Akwa Ibom, with vulnerable areas like Edor, Upenekang, Oron, and Eket.

In Borno, Ngala and Maiduguri have been listed as flood-prone, while parts of Bauchi — including Azare, Itas, Jama’are, Kari, and Misau — may also be impacted.

Other high-risk areas include Calabar and Akpap in Cross River; Miga, Dutse, and Ringim in Jigawa; and Daura in Katsina.

In Kano, the flood warning covers locations such as Kunchi, Gezawa, Wudil, Bebeji, Sumaila, and Tudun Wada.

Communities in Plateau (Jos, Bukuru, and Mangu), Yobe (Jakusko, Machina, and Dapchi), and Zamfara (Bungudu and Gusau) are also on the alert list.

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Bokani urged state governments and local stakeholders to take precautionary measures to limit the potential loss of lives and property.

The warning comes on the back of projections by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which had earlier identified 30 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) as high-risk flood zones in 2025.

NIHSA also revealed that over 2,100 communities in 293 local government areas fall within moderately affected flood zones.

In 2024, flooding claimed 321 lives, affected over 1.37 million people, and displaced more than 740,000 across Nigeria.

The environment ministry says it will continue monitoring weather patterns, urging residents in flood-prone areas to stay alert and prepared.