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The Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency has issued an urgent national flood advisory warning that severe riverine flooding is projected to hit Imo, Cross River, Lagos, and 12 other states over a seven-day window.
Arch Umar Mohammed, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiHSA, announced the forecast on Friday, indicating that the high-risk flooding period spans from September 19 through September 25, 2026.
Mohammed cautioned that critical public infrastructure, including educational institutions, healthcare centers, commercial markets, agricultural farmlands, and places of worship, face direct threats from rising water levels.
He strongly urged state authorities within the danger zones to proactively evacuate vulnerable populations to secure, elevated locations before the waters peak.
“High riverine flood risk forecast for the next 7 days across Imo, Cross River and 13 other states. Rising river stages are expected to cause flooding,” Mohammed stated.
“Communities on the floodplain should prepare to move to higher ground. Stations: Obubra on the Cross River, Itigidi on the Cross River, and Epento on the Cross River.”
According to the detailed advisory, numerous communities and essential utility hubs across the designated states remain heavily exposed.
In Imo State, identified local government areas encompass Aboh-Mba, Ahizu-Mb, Ehime-Mb, Ezinihit, Ideato No, Ihitte/U, and Ikeduru, with official metrics pointing to 958 communities, 1,022 schools, 553 health facilities, 161 markets, and 198 religious structures at risk.
For Cross River State, vulnerable zones feature Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Biase, Calabar, Calabar South, Ikom, and Obubra, exposing 2,471 communities, 703 schools, 344 health facilities, 145 markets, 453 religious buildings, and 854 hectares of farmland.
Ebonyi State vulnerabilities cover Abakaliki, Afikpo, Afikpo South, Ebonyi, Ezza North, and Ezza, impacting 2,574 communities, 1,064 schools, 422 health facilities, 480 markets, 629 religious structures, and 1,882 hectares of farmland.
In Benue State, the threatened sectors span Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Katsina-Ala, Logo, and Ukum, encompassing 303 communities, 100 schools, 48 health facilities, 32 markets, 151 religious buildings, and 55 hectares of farmland.
Anambra State risks target Aguata, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South, and Ayamelum, putting 1,314 communities, 1,308 schools, 1,089 health facilities, 280 markets, 610 religious buildings, and 1,529 hectares of farmland in danger.
In Akwa Ibom State, areas facing expected impact include Abak, Eket, Etinan, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Ika, and Ikono, where 249 communities, 323 schools, 211 health facilities, 74 markets, and 289 religious buildings are exposed.
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