Flood Fears Deepen As Federal Govt Places 28 States, FCT On Red Alert

Fresh fears of widespread flooding have gripped communities across Nigeria after the federal government placed 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on flood alert, warning that millions of residents in both the North and South could face days of dangerous flooding as heavy rainfall intensifies nationwide.

The warning, issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre, covers the period from 19 July to 1 August 2026, with authorities cautioning that persistent rainfall, saturated soils, overflowing rivers and overwhelmed drainage systems could trigger severe flooding in hundreds of communities.

While northern states along major river systems remain vulnerable, the latest forecast paints an equally grim picture for southern Nigeria, where densely populated cities, coastal settlements and riverine communities are expected to bear the brunt of flash floods, coastal inundation and river overflows.

Among the states classified as having critical flood risk are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, and Taraba.

The Federal Government identified several major southern urban centres and commercial hubs facing elevated flood danger, including Lagos, Lekki, Ikorodu, Agege, Apapa, Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Badagry and Lagos Island in Lagos State.

In the South-East, flood-prone areas include Aba, Umuahia, Ariaria Market corridor, Arochukwu, Onitsha, Fegge, Bridge Head, Awka, Nnewi, Nkpor, Obosi, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Omor, Nzam, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Enugu metropolis, Nsukka, Owerri and Orlu, among several others.

The South-South is also expected to experience significant impacts, with warnings issued for Yenagoa, Brass, Nembe, Kaiama, Ogbia, Sagbama, Ekeremor and Kolokuma/Opokuma in Bayelsa; Port Harcourt, Bonny, Okrika, Ahoada, Omoku, Eleme, Degema and Bonny Island in Rivers; Warri, Asaba, Sapele, Ughelli, Bomadi, Burutu, Patani and Escravos in Delta; as well as Calabar, Bakassi, Ikom, Ogoja and Ugep in Cross River.

The alert further extends to vulnerable communities in Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Ekiti, where urban flooding and overflowing waterways are expected to threaten homes, businesses, farmlands and critical infrastructure.

In the North-Central, authorities warned that communities in Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Idah and Ibaji in Kogi, Makurdi, Agatu, Buruku, Guma and Logo in Benue, as well as Minna, Mokwa, Shiroro, Suleja and Bida in Niger State, remain highly exposed due to rising river levels and floodplain settlements.

The forecast also highlighted vulnerable communities in Adamawa and Taraba, where riverside settlements in Yola, Mubi, Song, Ganye, Jalingo, Karim Lamido, Takum and Wukari could experience severe flooding if rainfall persists.

Beyond the critical-risk locations, the Ministry identified Adamawa, the FCT, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Plateau and parts of Taraba as high-risk areas requiring intensified monitoring. At the same time, 531 communities across Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara were placed on a moderate-risk watchlist.

The Ministry attributed the heightened risk to significant rainfall, elevated soil moisture, rapid surface runoff, drainage surcharge and rising river levels, warning that these conditions could quickly overwhelm drainage infrastructure and trigger flash floods, particularly in low-lying communities and densely populated urban centres.

It urged residents living along riverbanks, floodplains, wetlands and drainage corridors to remain vigilant, stressing that floodwaters could rise with little warning.

The government directed State Emergency Management Agencies, local government authorities, environmental officers and community flood volunteers to intensify surveillance around rivers, bridges, culverts, drainage channels and erosion-prone locations.

Communities classified as critical risk were advised to activate evacuation plans, protect vulnerable residents, avoid trading or residing within active floodplains and strictly comply with emergency directives where necessary.

The Ministry also called for aggressive drainage clearance, continuous rainfall monitoring and prompt reporting of rising water levels, warning that sustained downpours could rapidly escalate flood conditions across affected states.

It added that flood predictions should be interpreted alongside local observations, prevailing drainage conditions, river behaviour and official emergency advisories as authorities continue to monitor the evolving weather situation nationwide.