The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has asked the Federal Government to act quickly to stop a serious flood that could affect many areas in Northern Nigeria.
In a statement on Tuesday, July 22, NEF spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere said the region could face a big disaster. He explained that current rainfall patterns, past flood events, and weather warnings all show the danger is real.
Jiddere said August is usually the month with the most rain, and unless both federal and state governments work together now, the situation could become very bad. He reminded the public of past flood disasters in the North:
In 2012, floods killed 363 people, forced over 2.1 million people to leave their homes, and affected 30 out of 36 states. Kogi and Benue in the North were hit the hardest, according to NEMA.
In 2022, more than 600 people died, 1.3 million were displaced, 5,700 homes were destroyed, and many important places like hospitals, schools, and roads were badly damaged.
On September 9, 2024, Borno State suffered after the Alau Dam collapsed in Konduga area. The flood badly affected Maiduguri and Jere areas, killing people and destroying property.
On May 28, 2025, heavy rains caused deadly floods in Mokwa, Niger State. Over 500 people died, 600 were missing (mostly children, elderly, and disabled), and 4,000 homes and farms were destroyed. About 3,600 people were injured, and 300 children became sick from flood-related diseases. The area still lacks clean water, shelter, healthcare, and electricity.
The NEF referred to a warning issued on July 16, 2025, by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre. It warned that 11 states were at high risk of flooding—9 of them in Northern Nigeria.
These include Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Plateau, Yobe, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, and Zamfara. When combined with current weather reports and weak infrastructure, this shows a major risk of flooding until at least the end of September 2025.
The NEF urged the Federal Government and the affected state governments to take the following urgent steps:
1. Start emergency flood response plans immediately.
2. Clean and improve drainage systems in towns and villages.
3. Strengthen dams and manage water release properly.
4. Build barriers, canals, ponds, and reservoirs in flood-risk areas.
They also asked the government to talk with Cameroon about controlling water release from the Lagdo Dam, so Nigeria gets early warning and can prepare. NEF suggested placing sandbags and emergency kits in high-risk communities and running awareness campaigns on evacuation and safety measures.
The NEF warned that if the government fails to act now, it could lead to many deaths, destruction of homes and businesses, displacement of families, and major economic problems. They said this is not just a warning but a serious national threat—and action must be taken immediately.
