Flood Disaster Looms as FG Issues Seven-Day Alert for 17 States
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The Federal Government has warned that 17 states across Nigeria are at risk of experiencing flooding over the next seven days, urging residents in vulnerable communities to take immediate precautionary measures to safeguard lives and property.
The warning was contained in the latest National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200) issued on Tuesday by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), covering the period from July 21 to July 27.
According to the Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, the advisory followed a steady rise in water levels at major river monitoring stations, increasing the likelihood of localised flooding along river channels and floodplains.
Mohammed identified the affected states as Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
Explaining the basis for the warning, he said, “River levels at Saminaka on the Karam River, Waya Dam site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River had exceeded watch and warning thresholds.” He added that “16 gauging stations nationwide were recording elevated river levels, placing nearby communities at risk of localised flooding.”
The NIHSA boss urged state governments, local authorities and residents in flood-prone communities to act swiftly by implementing preventive measures before the situation worsens.
Among the states listed, Bauchi was identified as the most vulnerable, with 1,841 communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets exposed to possible flooding. The agency also highlighted vulnerable communities and public facilities in Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states.
Mohammed called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local governments and community leaders to immediately activate emergency response plans.
He recommended the relocation of residents, livestock and valuable property from floodplains to safer locations, while advising emergency agencies to pre-position food supplies, medical materials and water treatment equipment in areas likely to be affected.
To strengthen preparedness, Mohammed stressed the need for community awareness, saying authorities should mobilise early warning volunteers and utilise local communication channels to ensure flood alerts reach residents promptly.
He also warned residents against attempting to walk, drive or ride through flooded roads, bridges or fast-flowing waterways, while urging authorities to clear blocked drains, culverts and waterways to improve water flow and reduce the risk of flooding.
The NIHSA Director-General further advised both the public and relevant agencies to closely monitor daily flood advisories and updates issued by the agency.
The latest warning follows a similar advisory issued last week, in which NIHSA projected a medium flood risk in 14 states between July 14 and July 20. It also comes shortly after the Federal Ministry of Environment alerted 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory to the possibility of flooding caused by heavy rainfall, urging residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and relocate where necessary.
