JUST-IN: 28 States, FCT Face Fresh Flood Threat As FG Issues Nationwide Alert

The federal government has placed 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on high flood alert, warning that heavy rainfall expected over the next two weeks could trigger widespread flooding in hundreds of communities across the country.

The warning, issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre, covers the period between July 19 and August 1, 2026, with authorities citing persistent rainfall, saturated soils, rising river levels and overstretched drainage systems as major factors likely to worsen flooding.

According to the ministry, both northern and southern states remain vulnerable, although densely populated urban centres, coastal settlements and riverine communities in the South are expected to face heightened risks of flash floods, river overflow and coastal inundation.

States listed under the critical flood-risk category include 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 ministry identified several major cities and commercial centres likely to experience severe flooding, including Lagos, Lekki, Ikorodu, Agege, Apapa, Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Badagry and Lagos Island.

In the South-East, vulnerable communities include Aba, Umuahia, Arochukwu, Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Nkpor, Obosi, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Omor, Nzam, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Enugu metropolis, Nsukka, Owerri and Orlu.

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

The ministry also warned residents in vulnerable communities across Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Ekiti to brace for possible urban flooding capable of disrupting transportation, damaging homes and businesses and destroying farmlands.

In the North-Central, 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, were identified as areas requiring close monitoring because of rising river levels and their proximity to floodplains.

The forecast also highlighted Yola, Mubi, Song, Ganye, Jalingo, Karim Lamido, Takum and Wukari in Adamawa and Taraba as communities that could witness severe flooding if the current rainfall pattern persists.

Beyond the critical-risk areas, the Federal Government placed Adamawa, the FCT, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Plateau and parts of Taraba under high-risk surveillance, while 531 communities across Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara were classified as moderate-risk locations.

The ministry attributed the growing flood threat to prolonged rainfall, high soil moisture, rapid surface runoff, rising river levels and drainage systems operating beyond capacity, warning that these conditions could trigger flash floods with little notice.

It urged residents living along riverbanks, floodplains, wetlands and drainage channels to remain vigilant and heed warnings from emergency management agencies.

State Emergency Management Agencies, local government councils and community-based flood response volunteers were directed to intensify monitoring of rivers, bridges, culverts and erosion-prone areas, while residents in high-risk locations were advised to activate evacuation plans where necessary.

The ministry also called for immediate clearing of blocked drainage channels, continuous monitoring of rainfall and river levels, and prompt reporting of flood incidents, stressing that the forecast should be interpreted alongside local weather conditions and official emergency advisories as the rainy season reaches its peak.