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The Federal Government has raised an alarm over potential flooding in 198 local government areas across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory, warning residents to brace for possible devastation between August 7 and August 21, 2025.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), in a statement on Thursday, said the alert categorises flood risks as very high, high, or moderate depending on local terrain and expected rainfall intensity. Vulnerable communities were urged to take precautionary steps to reduce the impact.
According to NiHSA, states facing very high flood risk include Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Gombe, Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Rivers, Yobe, and Zamfara.
States at high to moderate risk are Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau, Sokoto, and Taraba.
In total, 832 communities are projected to be affected, with the possibility of over 100 major transportation routes being disrupted.
“High likelihood of displacement, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. NiHSA urges residents in affected regions to remain vigilant, adhere to early warning directives, and cooperate with emergency response agencies,” the agency stated.
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To reduce the threat, NiHSA advised that communities should have evacuation plans ready, follow its state-level weekly forecasts, and closely monitor updates.
The Director General of NiHSA, Umar Mohammed, stressed: “This alert is issued in line with our commitment to safeguarding lives and property. We call on state governments, local authorities, and the public to take proactive measures to mitigate risk and ensure community safety.”
He added that the agency would continue monitoring the hydrological situation and issue timely updates as necessary.
The warning comes as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that flooding in 2025 has already claimed 191 lives nationwide, with 94 people still missing.
Niger State recorded the highest fatalities with 163 deaths, followed by Adamawa with 26. One death each was reported in Borno and Gombe states.
NEMA data revealed that, so far this year, 134,435 people across 20 states and 47 LGAs have been affected, with 48,056 displaced, 239 injured, and 9,499 houses damaged. Additionally, 9,450 farmlands have been impacted.
Those affected include 27,121 men, 41,539 women, 60,071 children, 5,704 elderly persons, and 1,874 persons with disabilities.
By comparison, floods in 2024 affected over 5.2 million people, displacing 1.24 million, killing 1,237, and injuring 16,469. That disaster also destroyed 116,172 houses and damaged 1.43 million hectares of farmland, worsening food security and economic stability nationwide.
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