FG ISSUES FIVE-DAY FLOOD ALERT IN 19 STATES
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Agency report
The Federal Government has issued a flood alert, warning of heavy rainfall expected over a five-day period that could lead to widespread flooding across 19 states and 76 locations.
The warning was released on Tuesday by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre, under the Federal Ministry of Environment, urging both residents and stakeholders to take immediate preventive measures.
This alert follows severe flooding that struck Ogun and Gombe states on Tuesday, with other areas such as Lagos, Plateau, Anambra, and Delta also experiencing flood-related damage.
According to the Centre’s flood forecast accessed by our correspondent, the affected areas are likely to face flood-inducing rainfall between August 5 and August 9, 2025.
The predicted high-risk locations are Akwa-Ibom (Edor, Eket, Ikom, Oron, Upenekang); Bauchi (Tafawa-Balewa, Azare, Jama’are, Kari, Misau, Jama’a); Ebonyi (Abakaliki, Echara, Ezilo); Cross-River (Ogoja Edor, Obubra); Nasarawa (Keana, Keffi, Wamba); Benue (Agaku, Buruku, Gboko, Igumale, Ito, Katsina-Ala, Ugba, Vande-Ikya); Kaduna (Jaji, Kafancha, Birnin-Gwari, Zaria) and Katsina (Bindawa, Bakori, Daura, Funtua).
Others are Kebbi (Bagudo, Birnin-Kebbi, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo, Kamba, Kangiwa, Shanga, Ribah, Sakaba, Saminaka, Yelwa, Gauri-Banza); Kano (Bebeji, Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Tundun-wada, Wudil, Kunchi); Niger (Kontagora, Rijau, Ringim); Plateau (Mangu); Taraba (Donga, Takum); Jigawa (Diginsa, Gumel, Dutse, Gwaram, Hadejia, Miga); Yobe (Machina, Potiskum); Zamfara (Anka); Sokoto (Sokoto, Wamakko); Borno (Biu); and Gombe (Bajoga).
Flooding remains a recurring issue in Nigeria, often resulting in significant loss of life and property. In 2024, 31 states were affected, with hundreds of fatalities, thousands injured, and over 1.2 million people impacted.
A major disaster occurred on September 10, 2024, when the Alau Dam collapsed in Borno State, killing at least 150 people, displacing 419,000, and submerging 70% of the local community.
In 2025, several destructive floods have already occurred. The most catastrophic incident happened in May, when flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, killed at least 200 people and displaced thousands. This disaster, intensified by a dam collapse and heavy rainfall, caused widespread damage and disrupted access to basic services.
Although Mokwa was the hardest-hit area, flooding in 2025 has impacted many regions across Nigeria.
In Rivers State, intense rainfall led to severe flooding and landslides in Okrika, where homes were buried and people swept away, resulting in at least 25 fatalities. The disaster left millions vulnerable across the country.
Earlier in the year, in April, deadly floods also struck parts of Kwara State and Mokwa.
Among the victims were three individuals who drowned when their canoe overturned in a swollen river. The incident, alongside the destruction of rice farms, followed the scheduled water release from the Jebba Hydroelectric Power Station dam, which devastated around 30 communities.
In response to the escalating flood crisis, the National Economic Council recently approved the release of emergency intervention funds to enhance flood mitigation and response efforts nationwide.
Financial support was allocated to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as key federal ministries and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
A dashboard released by NEMA last Friday revealed the extent of the damage.
At least 165 people have lost their lives, 82 are missing, and nearly 120,000 individuals have been affected by the floods so far this year.
The agency also reported that many sustained injuries, tens of thousands have been displaced, thousands of homes were damaged, and farmlands were washed away in several local government areas across 19 states.
Women and children were identified as the most impacted groups in the ongoing disaster.
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