The federal government has issued an alert about looming flooding across 15 states and 69 communities from September 24 to 28. According to a statement by the National Flood Early Warning Centre (under the Ministry of Environment), the forecast covers Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Edo, Imo, Kano, Katsina, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara.
Communities identified as being at risk include Yola, Yenagoa, Warri, Benin City, Oguta, Kano, Jibia, Akure, Oyo, Ahoada, Shagari, Serti, and Gusau, among others.
The advisory notes that heavy rainfall in these areas may trigger flooding in these communities and neighboring regions. Residents, local government authorities, and emergency response teams are urged to prepare and take preventive measures immediately.
This warning is part of the government’s regular early-warning system, intended to reduce loss of life and damage to property during the peak of the rainy season.
The alert comes just days after heavy rains battered Lagos, leaving homes submerged, businesses disrupted, and roads impassable.
Flooding has become a recurrent challenge in Nigeria during the rainy season. In 2022, the country witnessed one of its worst flood events in a decade, causing over 600 deaths, displacing 1.4 million people, and destroying large areas of farmland. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and severity of floods to climate change, poor drainage infrastructure, and uncontrolled urban development.
Earlier in the year, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had already flagged heightened flood risks for various parts of the country in 2025.
