Ahead of the rainy season, states have commenced measures to curb flooding expected to affect no fewer than 1,249 communities in 176 local governments across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The measures include public enlightenment campaigns, dredging water channels and relocating communities on river banks and floodplains.
On Thursday, the federal government announced that states would witness heavy flooding between April and November.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev disclosed this at the unveiling of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency in Abuja.
Utsav identified the high flood-risk states as Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo and Jigawa.
Others are Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT.
The minister raised concerns that flooding remains one of the devastating natural disasters in Nigeria, with climate change accelerating its frequency and severity.
He also predicted that coastal and riverine areas such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo would experience flooding due to rise in sea level and tidal surge, and this would impact fishing, wildlife habitation and river navigation.
“The 2025 Annual Flood Outlook shows that 1,249 communities in 176 local government areas in 30 states and the FCT fall within the High Flood Risk Areas, while 2,187 communities in 293 councils in 36 states of the federation and the FCT fall within the Moderate Flood Risk Areas.
“Flash and urban flooding are projected in major cities in the country due to high rainfall intensity, low attention to the management of water facilities, including drainage systems, waterways and lack of flood resilience structures.
“Nevertheless, flood, unlike other natural disasters, can be contained with proper planning and the provision of necessary infrastructure. Rather than just general predictions, forecasts are now tailored to specific communities, enhancing actionable communication and preparedness at the grassroots level,” he stated.
Earlier in his address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Richard Pheelangwah, urged stakeholders to prioritise early response.
He said, “This outlook is not just about numbers, it is about protecting lives and livelihoods.”
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, noted that this year’s flood forecast goes beyond mapping local government areas and now identifies specific communities at risk.
Mohammed added that AFO’s enhanced methodology is the result of continuous feedback, technological advancement and broad inter-agency collaboration.
“We are transforming flood data into real-time decisions and impactful resilience-building. Our focus has expanded to assess sectoral impact on health, education, agriculture and infrastructure, offering more robust tools to policymakers and disaster risk managers,” he stated.
Responding to the forecast, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency said it has alerted residents living in flood-prone local government areas and communities to be prepared as their territories may be inundated from April.
The Deputy Publicity Secretary of the agency, Uche Okalawan disclosed that state authorities have started clearing blocked drainages and evacuating structures blocking the free flow of water.
Okalawan listed 10 local government areas out of the 21 councils that are flood-risk areas.
They include Ogbaru, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Onitsha South, Onitsha North, Awka North, Idemili South, Ekwusigo and Ihiala.
He said, “The state government has started de-silting water channels and clearing blocked drainages. Residents of these communities have been notified and alerted to the impending flooding.
“In the event of flooding, internally displaced persons camps set up by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, are still in place and the elderly, women and children will be moved to the camps immediately.”
