The Federal Government has raised the alarm over possible flooding in 32 locations across 11 states between September 14 and 18.
The warning, issued by the National Flood Early Warning Centre (FEW), cites rising water levels in Rivers Gongola, Benue and Niger as major risks.
Affected areas include:
- Adamawa: Ganye, Natubi
- Benue: Abinsi, Agyo, Gogo, Ito, Makurdi, Udoma, Ukpiam
- Nasarawa: Agima, Rukubi, Odogbo
- Taraba: Beli, Serti, Donga
- Delta: Umugboma, Umukwata, Abraka, Aboh, Okpo-Krika
- Niger: Rijau
- Kebbi: Ribah
- Kano: Gwarzo, Karaye
- Katsina: Jibia
- Sokoto: Makira
- Zamfara: Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, Maradun, Gusau, Anka, Bungudu
The Ministry of Environment urged communities along floodplains, including those stretching from Numan to Lokoja, to evacuate immediately.
“Communities on the floodplains of Rivers Gongola, Benue and Niger should move to safer grounds without delay,” the circular signed by Usman Bokani, Director of Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management, stated.
The alert follows last week’s heavy rains in Zaria, Kaduna State, which displaced over 470 children and destroyed 270 homes.
Flooding remains a major disaster risk in Nigeria. NEMA reports that so far in 2025, floods have killed 231 people, injured 607, while 114 remain missing.
In 2024 alone, over 5.2 million Nigerians were affected across 35 states, with 1.2 million displaced and 1,237 lives lost.
