The Federal Government has issued a warning of significant rainfall and potential flooding in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The states identified as being at high risk of flooding are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, stated on Thursday that some areas in the South-South geopolitical zone, including Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers, are expected to experience coastal and riverine flooding due to rising sea levels. Akwa-Ibom and Edo states are also categorized as high-flood risk areas.
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Utsev made this announcement during the public presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in Abuja.
The 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) is divided into three sections to address the urgent issues of flood disasters and provide information for mitigation, particularly in the most vulnerable communities.
The minister emphasized that flooding remains a major natural disaster in Nigeria, with climate change exacerbating its frequency and intensity.
He revealed that 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the 30 listed states and the FCT are in high-risk flood zones this year, while an additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs face moderate flood risks. Key areas of concern include Abia, Benue, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Jigawa, among others.
To improve early warning and response systems, this year’s AFO introduces a community-based flood forecasting approach.
Instead of general predictions, forecasts are now tailored to specific communities, aiming to enhance actionable communication and preparedness at the local level.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Richard Pheelangwah, urged stakeholders to prioritize early response, stating that the outlook is about protecting lives and livelihoods, not just numbers.
The Director General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, highlighted that this year’s flood forecast goes beyond mapping LGAs to identifying specific at-risk communities.
He added that their focus has expanded to assess the impact on sectors like health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure, providing more effective tools for policymakers and disaster risk managers.
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