The federal government has issued a fresh flood alert, warning communities across several states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of possible flooding between September 27 and October 10, 2026.
The warning was contained in a flood prediction released by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Center under the Federal Ministry of Environment.
According to the advisory, the affected areas may experience a combination of elevated soil moisture, rainfall, rapid surface runoff, drainage surcharge and rising river levels, conditions that could trigger flooding during the forecast period.
The Centre classified affected communities into three categories, Critical Risk, High Risk and Moderate Risk Watchlist, depending on the anticipated level of flood exposure.
States with communities placed under the Critical Risk category include Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.
In Ekiti State, the listed areas include Ado-Ekiti, Ijero, Ikere, Ekiti Southwest, Ekiti East, Ise/Orun and Ekiti West. Lagos State communities on the critical-risk list include Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Lekki, Ojo, Orile Agege, Surulere, Agege, Alimosho and Kosofe.
The Federal Capital Territory is classified under the High Risk category, with areas including Abuja Municipal, Abaji, Asokoro, Bwari, Garki, Gwarinpa, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kubwa, Maitama, Nyanya, Wuse and several other communities listed.
Other states with communities under the High Risk category include Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa and Kebbi.
The Centre also placed communities in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa on a Moderate Risk Watchlist, urging residents to maintain preparedness and monitor changing weather and drainage conditions.
The National Flood Early Warning Systems Center advised communities classified as Critical Risk areas to maintain an immediate flood watch, verify evacuation routes and protect vulnerable households and essential property.
It also warned residents against settling, parking, trading or storing goods within active floodplains, wetlands, riverbanks and low-lying drainage corridors.
For High Risk communities, the Centre called for intensified drainage clearance, monitoring of culverts and watercourses, and prompt reporting of rainfall, waterlogging, dam releases and rising river levels.
Residents in all affected areas were further advised to comply with evacuation instructions from competent authorities, keep children away from floodwater and avoid walking or driving through flowing water.
The advisory also urged residents to disconnect electricity where flooding is imminent and protect essential items including medicines, important documents, food and potable water.
The Centre stressed that the predictions should be considered alongside real-time local observations, drainage conditions, river levels and official emergency directives.
It added that feedback from state governments, relevant stakeholders and community focal persons would be used to validate and continuously update its flood-risk database.
The advisory was signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.
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