The federal government has issued a nationwide flood alert, warning that 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at high risk of flooding between April and November this year.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, delivered the warning on Wednesday during the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook organised by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Themed “Smart Water Resources Management: Moving from Oil to a Water-Based Economy,” the event outlined projections showing widespread flood risks across the country.
According to the minister, states classified as high-risk include Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.
Utsev warned that the anticipated flooding could have severe consequences for human populations, agriculture, livestock, infrastructure, and the environment.
He disclosed that more than 9,000 communities across 188 local government areas are expected to experience flooding between April and June. The figure is projected to rise to over 14,000 communities in 263 local government areas between July and September, before affecting an additional 11,000 communities in 224 local government areas from October to November.
The minister also highlighted the risk of flash and urban flooding in major cities, including Abakaliki, Abeokuta, Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin Kebbi, Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Nguru, Onitsha, Oshogbo, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Warri, and Yola.
He further noted that coastal and riverine flooding driven by rising sea levels would particularly impact Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo states, posing threats to fishing activities, wildlife, and river navigation.
Calling for urgent action, Utsev urged state and local governments, disaster management agencies, farmers, and community leaders to heed early warnings and implement preventive measures.
“The Annual Flood Outlook is not meant to cause panic but to serve as a call to action,” he said, stressing that timely information remains critical to saving lives, safeguarding infrastructure, and minimizing economic losses.
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration among government agencies, development partners, research institutions, civil society organisations, and the private sector to strengthen resilience against flooding.
In a related remark, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha, underscored the importance of water resources for the livestock sector and pledged closer cooperation with the water ministry to ensure sustainable supply.
Earlier, Director-General of NiHSA, Umar Ibrahim, said the agency has enhanced its flood monitoring system with a digital dashboard and mobile application to improve real-time dissemination of alerts.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, represented by Godwin Tabito, reaffirmed the agency’s readiness to respond to emergencies.
She urged citizens and local leaders to adopt preventive practices such as clearing drainage systems and maintaining clean environments to mitigate the impact of flooding.
The government reiterated that proactive measures and coordinated efforts remain key to reducing the scale of the anticipated disaster.