FG Alert: 30 States Rush To Avert Flood Crisis

Ahead of the rainy season, states have commenced measures to arrest the flooding expected to inundate no fewer than 1,249 communities in 176 local governments across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The measures include public enlightenment campaigns, dredging water channels, and relocating communities on river banks and floodplains.

On Thursday, the Federal Government announced that the states would witness heavy flooding between April and November.

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, disclosed this at the unveiling of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency in Abuja.

Utsav identified the high flood-risk states as Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo and Jigawa.

Others are Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT.

The minister raised concerns that flooding remains one of the devastating natural disasters in Nigeria, with climate change accelerating its frequency and severity.

He also predicted that coastal and riverine areas such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo would experience flooding due to the rise in sea level and tidal surge, and this would impact fishing, wildlife habitation and river navigation.

“The 2025 Annual Flood Outlook shows that 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas in 30 States and FCT fall within the High Flood Risk Areas, while 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs in 36 states of the federation and the FCT fall within the Moderate Flood Risk Areas.

“Flash and urban flooding are projected in major cities in the country due to high rainfall intensities, low attention to the management of water facilities, including drainage systems, waterways and a lack of flood resilience structures.

“Nevertheless, the flood, unlike other natural disasters, can be contained with proper planning and provision of necessary infrastructure. Rather than just general predictions, forecasts are now tailored to specific communities, enhancing actionable communication and preparedness at the grassroots level,” he stated.

Earlier in his address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Richard Pheelangwah, urged stakeholders to prioritise early response.

He said, “This outlook isn’t just about numbers, it’s about protecting lives and livelihoods.”

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, noted that this year’s flood forecast goes beyond mapping LGAs and now identifies specific communities at risk.

Mohammed added that the AFO’s enhanced methodology is the result of continuous feedback, technological advancement, and broad inter-agency collaboration.

“We are transforming flood data into real-time decisions and impactful resilience-building. Our focus has expanded to assess sectoral impacts on health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure, offering more robust tools to policymakers and disaster risk managers,” he stated.

Responding to the forecast, the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency said it has alerted residents living in flood-prone local government areas and communities to be prepared as their territories may be inundated from April.

The Deputy Publicity Secretary of the agency, Uche Okalawan, disclosed that the state authorities have started clearing blocked drainages and evacuating structures blocking the free flow of water.

Okalawan listed 10 local government areas out of the 21 LGs in the state that are flood-risk areas.

He listed them to include Ogbaru, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Onitsha South, Onitsha North, Awka North, Idemili South, Ekwusigo and Ihiala.

He said, “The state government has started de-silting water channels and clearing blocked drainages. Residents of these communities have been notified and alerted to the impending flooding.

“In the event of flooding, the internally displaced persons camps set up by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, are still in place, and the elderly, women and children will be moved to the camps immediately.

“The state government equally urged them to contact their local government emergency management committee.”

The Kwara State government explained it is expanding the river course in areas prone to flooding, advising people to relocate from flood-prone areas and admonishing residents against dumping waste in waterways.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Buge, said that the government has been working on measures to prevent flooding in the state.

Buge revealed that the state has begun the expansion of Asa River, which has been identified as a major cause of flooding in Ilorin and some local government areas.

“The state government under the leadership of Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq has directed that the water course in Asa River and other waterways be dredged for expansion to give way for free flow of water during the raining season.

“We have also taken proactive measures in areas listed by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency. The government has also asked people living near the river in Ilorin metropolis, Patigi, Edu, Moro and other local government areas prone to flooding to relocate while it has embarked on the construction of dykes or levees, an embankment along a riverbank or coastal shoreline, to prevent the flow of floodwaters while those living near the river have been advised to move from the area,” she noted.

She stressed the need for dredging, construction of more buffers and afforestation to address flooding in communities.

In Ogun, the state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government is engaging the 20 local governments to domesticate the flood alert it issued about two weeks ago based on the NiMET prediction on flooding for the year 2025.

The commissioner stated, “We have issued our flood alert some weeks back, and we are also domesticating this with our local governments. We have told them to tell their people to clean their drainage and not obstruct the waterways for any reason.

“The state government is also clearing its waterways, we are dredging the downstream section of Ogun River to increase its carrying capacity. We are equally opening up more tributaries.

“We are also in touch with the management of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority for the effective management of water release, especially during the river and coastal flooding which happens between September and October.

“Some communities across the state that are prone to flooding have also been told to either elevate or evacuate to a safer place before the September/October coastal and river flood.”

The Spokesperson for the Gombe State Ministry of Water Environment and Forest Resources, Amos Fabulous, highlighted the preventive measures taken ahead of the rains.

“As witnessed during the last year’s rainy season, Gombe didn’t experience flooding due to adequate and timely de-silting of drainages and storm drains, which is a continuous exercise as Messrs Cosmopolitan are engaged to sanitise the state and de-silt it drainage and storm drains.”

“Also, the completion of the 21km Federal College of Education Technical gully erosion control project has provided adequate running water channels, and the one embarked by the state government from behind International Hotel to commissioner of police residence has provided water channels for easy passage.

“Residents are also advised against indiscriminate refuse dumping to avoid blockage of canals and so forth. Also, sensitisation to flood-prone areas will be adequately done,” he added.

Like other states, the Delta State government says it has commenced the clearing of water channels and public sensitization.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Jamani Ejiro, explained, “Before the Federal Government’s announcement on flood, we have already started sensitization, telling our people the danger of flooding.

“Before the rain comes, we have already opened our water channel and cleared the drains. We are on top of the situation,” he assured.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lafia on Thursday, the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency enunciated the steps being taken to prevent flooding, including educating residents about the dangers of living in flood-prone areas.

The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics of the agency, Danladi Obagu, stated that the venues for the temporary settlement of displaced persons were being set up across the state.

He further narrated that the agency had deployed its officials to flood-prone LGAs and communities.

He said, “We are preparing because Nasarawa is among the states that have been predicted to experience serious flooding this year.

“So, the agency, with the authority and support of the governor, has started going around to sensitise the people in the riverine and the flood-prone areas.

“The LGAs usually affected by flood are Nasarawa, Toto, Doma, Awe, Lafia, Obi, Karu and Akwanga, but we are doing everything possible to avert the losses that come with it this year.”

He further noted that relief materials would be provided for flood victims.

“However, we are appealing to the people who live along riverine areas to move to high grounds to avoid any form of casualties,” he added.

The acting Director General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Ali Abdullahi, confirmed that a committee was set up three months ago to implement initiatives that would prevent flooding across the state.

“The state government has been doing a lot, we have been working closely with the NIMET. The state government has a permanent committee on flood control and other related matters. The committee has the responsibility of sensitising the communities, dredging the riverways and clearing the drainages. They have been working for the past three months,” he further explained.

To avert the impending flooding, the Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control said it would soon clear the canals in the state capital, Yenagoa.

Chief Walson Omusu, head of the directorate, said the canals had been identified and would soon be cleared to address flash floods.

Between now and May, he said the directorate would have completely cleared all the canals of weeds and other obstructions.

On its part, the Bauchi State Government said it has sustained its awareness campaign to flood-prone communities.

Speaking with PUNCH on Thursday, the Information Officer for the State Emergency Management Agency, Adamu Nayola, noted that since the last rainy season, SEMA has not rested on its oars but tirelessly advocated measures to mitigate flooding.
“The state government through SEMA has been putting necessary measures in place including creating awareness to the residents of flood prone communities.

“Areas affected by the last rainy season, including bridges, are under reconstruction to avoid severe implications,” he remarked