Abuja: The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a fresh flood alert for 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), warning of a high risk of flooding in over 739 communities and 162 Local Government Areas between Tuesday and August 5.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, this alert follows the agency's forecast and is consistent with the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released on April 10. NIHSA's Director General, Mr. Umar Mohammad, emphasized the importance of these alerts, which are provided weekly to highlight areas likely to experience flooding.
The states on the alert list include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe, along with the FCT. The agency has urged emergency management stakeholders to activate preparedness and response mechanisms, noting that the intensity and impact of the floods will vary across the affected states during the forecast period.
The warning covers a wide range, beginning from Adamawa through to Yobe in the North East, and includes key metropolitan areas such as the FCT and Lagos State. NIHSA has also cautioned about the potential disruption of over 100 major transportation routes, including critical economic corridors such as Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Road, Birnin Kebbi-Bunza Road, Ibi-Wukari Road, and key routes within Lagos, FCT, and the Niger Delta.
Additionally, the agency highlighted the increased risk of property damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Agricultural lands are also under threat, which could potentially affect food security in several regions.
NIHSA strongly advised all emergency management stakeholders to activate preparedness and response protocols, while at-risk communities should implement evacuation plans without delay. Nigerians are encouraged to monitor weekly updates through NIHSA's Flood Dashboard website (www.nihsa.gov.ng) and social media platforms.