A fresh seven-day flood advisory has been released by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, highlighting a medium threat of flooding across 17 states from July 21 to July 27.
The agency stated that the warning stems from rising water volumes detected at critical river monitoring stations, heightening the threat of localized inundations along riverbanks and floodplains.
Umar Mohammed, the Director-General of NIHSA, made the announcement via the National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200) published on Tuesday.
He listed the impacted regions, noting that “Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara” fall directly within the danger zone.
According to Mohammed, “river levels at Saminaka on the Karam River, Waya Dam site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River had exceeded watch and warning thresholds.”
Data from 16 monitoring gauges across the country revealed critically high water heights, placing nearby settlements in immediate danger.
The NIHSA chief called on state authorities, local government officials, and citizens residing in vulnerable zones to adopt proactive safety measures right away.
Out of all the listed regions, Bauchi recorded the highest exposure level, with 1,841 communities, 145 educational institutions, 101 medical facilities, and eight commercial markets flagged as vulnerable.
Additional at-risk settlements and public infrastructure were also identified in Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau, and Benue states.
Mohammed strongly urged the National Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agencies, municipal leaders, and community heads to activate disaster response protocols.
Key safety recommendations included evacuating people, livestock, and critical assets away from low-lying floodplains to higher ground.
He further advised response agencies to pre-position essential relief items, such as food provisions, medical supplies, and water treatment utilities, in potential impact zones.
The agency emphasized the importance of community mobilization via early warning networks and local communication tools to ensure timely updates reach residents.
Citizens were strictly warned against driving, walking, or riding through submerged roadways, compromised bridges, and rapidly moving currents.
Additionally, authorities were urged to clear blocked drainage systems, culverts, and waterways to enhance flow capacity and mitigate overflow risks.
The public and relevant stakeholders were advised to stay informed by regularly tracking daily flood reports and advisories published by the agency.
