The Federal Government has issued a warning to 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over expected heavy rainfall and potential flooding in the coming months.
According to the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), released on Thursday by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) are at high risk of flooding. Additionally, 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs are expected to experience moderate flooding.
High-risk states include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, attributed the anticipated flooding in the South-South zone—including Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers—to rising sea levels, warning that both coastal and riverine areas would be affected.
Utsev made the remarks during the public presentation of the 2025 AFO in Abuja, emphasizing that climate change continues to increase the frequency and severity of floods across the country.
The 2025 flood outlook has been categorized into three phases to better support mitigation efforts and assist vulnerable communities. Notably, the new forecast model includes a community-based approach, allowing for more precise and actionable flood predictions at the local level.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, called for proactive measures by all stakeholders. “This outlook isn’t just about numbers—it’s about protecting lives and livelihoods,” he said.
NIHSA Director General, Umar Mohammed, added that this year’s report goes beyond merely identifying LGAs. “We’re now pinpointing specific communities at risk and examining the broader sectoral impacts—on health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure—to better support decision-makers and disaster response teams,” he stated.
