Summary
- The
Nigerian Federal Government, through the Environment Ministry, has issued
an urgent flood alert for 19 states due to predicted heavy rainfall from
August 5 to August 9, 2025. - The
alert was released following forecasts from the National Flood Early
Warning Systems Centre of the Federal Ministry of Environment. - Authorities
warn that up to 76 locations could experience severe flooding, threatening
lives, property, and agriculture. - Recent
data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) indicate that at
least 191 people have died this year in flood-related incidents, with
Niger State suffering the highest number of casualties. - The
affected states include Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Cross River, Nasarawa,
Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kano, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Jigawa, Yobe,
Zamfara, Sokoto, Borno, and Gombe. - Stakeholders,
emergency responders, and residents are being urged to take immediate
precautions. - Nationwide,
floods continue to cause yearly destruction, with property damage,
displacement, and casualties on the rise. - The
National Economic Council has allocated emergency funds to address the
anticipated flood crisis. - Local
and international media have highlighted the ongoing devastation and
increasing risk of flooding across Nigeria.
In a sweeping move to combat rising flood risks, Nigeria‘s
Federal Government has sounded a high alert for 19 states, warning of severe
rainfall and potential destruction over the coming five days. The unprecedented
warning, released by the Federal Ministry of Environment, comes amid grave
forecasts of torrential downpours that threaten to intensify the nation’s
perennial battle with devastating floods.
Why Did the Nigerian Government Issue a Flood Alert for 19
States?
As reported by the Staff Writer of Daily Post Nigeria, the
Federal Ministry of Environment’s National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre
on Tuesday forecasted that “the affected areas are expected to experience
rainfall likely to cause flooding from August 5 to August 9, 2025”. The
government explained that this five-day period is critical and could result in
flooding in 76 towns and communities across 19 states. The Environment Ministry
has advised citizens and stakeholders in these regions to take urgent steps to
safeguard their lives and property.
Which States Are at Risk and What Areas Are Most Vulnerable?
According to the full list obtained and reported by Daily
Post Nigeria, Naija FM, and several other titles, the following states and
locations have been identified as high-risk zones for flooding:
- Akwa
Ibom: Edor, Eket, Ikom, Oron, Upenekang - Bauchi: Tafawa-Balewa,
Azare, Jama’are, Kari, Misau, Jama’a - Ebonyi: Abakaliki,
Echara, Ezilo - Cross
River: Ogoja Edor, Obubra - Nasarawa: Keana,
Keffi, Wamba - Benue: Agaku,
Buruku, Gboko, Igumale, Ito, Katsina-Ala, Ugba, Vande-Ikya - Kaduna: Jaji,
Kafancha, Birnin-Gwari, Zaria - Katsina: Bindawa,
Bakori, Daura, Funtua - Kebbi: Bagudo,
Birnin-Kebbi, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo, Kamba, Kangiwa, Shanga, Ribah,
Sakaba, Saminaka, Yelwa, Gauri-Banza - Kano: Bebeji,
Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Tundun-wada, Wudil, Kunchi - Niger: Kontagora,
Rijau, Ringim - Plateau: Mangu
- Taraba: Donga,
Takum - Jigawa: Diginsa,
Gumel, Dutse, Gwaram, Hadejia, Miga - Yobe: Machina,
Potiskum - Zamfara: Anka
- Sokoto: Sokoto,
Wamakko - Borno: Biu
- Gombe: Bajoga
The government has stressed that all stakeholders must
“take urgent precautionary measures” to save lives and mitigate
property loss.
What Is the Recent Impact and History of Flooding in
Nigeria?
Reporting for Naija FM, the editorial team highlights the
persistent and destructive impact of floods in Nigeria over recent years.
“Flood wey dey happen for Nigeria don turn yearly wahala wey dey kill
people and scatter plenty property,” they note, meaning floods have become
an annual calamity killing people and destroying vast property. In 2024,
the collapse of the Alau Dam in Borno State led to catastrophic flooding that
killed at least 150 people and displaced 419,000, submerging 70 percent of the
affected community.
In May 2025, the worst flooding so far this year killed at
least 200 people and displaced thousands in Mokwa, Niger State. Further
fatalities occurred when a landslide triggered by heavy rain and flooding
buried houses in Rivers State, killing at least 25 people. Kwara and Mokwa also
saw deadly incidents, including drowning and farmlands washed away after the
Jebba Hydroelectric Power Station dam released water affecting 30 communities.
How Many People Have Been Affected and What Is the Death
Toll?
Citing the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
numbers, Naija FM reports, “at least 191 people don die because of flood
wey scatter different parts of di country, and 94 people still dey miss”. Niger
State has the highest death toll with 163 reported fatalities, followed by
Adamawa State which has registered 26 deaths. According to agency
dashboard data, so far this year:
- 191
deaths recorded from floods - 94
persons remain missing - 138
people wounded, 82 missing, and 119,791 displaced - 43,936
houses lost, 8,594 houses damaged, and 8,278 farms destroyed in 43 Local
Government Areas of 19 states - 134,435
people affected across 20 states and 47 local government areas in 2025
NEMA emphasizes that children and women are the most
vulnerable groups during these disasters.
What has the Government Done to Mitigate the Impact of These
Floods?
According to Naija FM and supported by other outlets, the
government has released significant funds to support flood response and
mitigation efforts nationwide. The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved
allocations as follows:
- N3
billion each to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) - N1.5
billion to the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Federal
Ministry of Environment, and Federal Ministry of Water Resources and
Sanitation each - N10
billion to the National Emergency Management Agency
The aim is to bolster emergency response, strengthen local
infrastructure and ensure swift support to affected populations.
What Is the Broader Context Surrounding Nigeria’s Flood
Crisis?
Reporting by Reuters, Dockaysworld, Punch, and Yahoo News
points to structural and environmental weaknesses worsening Nigeria’s annual
flood woes. Poor drainage, rapid urbanization, deforestation, and climate
change are collectively blamed for turning seasonal rains into deadly
emergencies. As reported by Reuters,
“Nigeria’s environment ministry
warned that heavy rainfall expected from August 5-9 could trigger flooding in
various parts of the country”.
The Nigerian government acknowledges that, unless long-term
measures are implemented—including robust urban planning, dam management, and
ecological restoration—annual flooding will continue to pose grave risks to
millions of Nigerians.
How Are Citizens and Stakeholders Reacting to the Warnings?
Media coverage from Daily Post Nigeria and others reveals that local governments, NGOs, and community leaders are bracing for the worst.
Stakeholders have begun preparations, including clearing waterways, educating
residents, and readying emergency shelters. Nonetheless, many affected
communities remain vulnerable due to inadequate resources and weakened
infrastructure.
Residents in at-risk regions have expressed concern over
potentially being forced to evacuate and lose livelihoods. There is widespread
anxiety that if the rainfall is as severe as forecast, it could easily
overwhelm local coping mechanisms, leading to repeat tragedies seen in 2024 and
earlier this year.
What Should Nigerians in the Affected Areas Do Next?
As summarized by Dockaysworld journalists, the Environment
Ministry urges all individuals in high-risk zones to:
- Monitor
official weather updates and governmental advisories. - Prepare
emergency kits and evacuation plans. - Avoid
flood-prone zones and take shelter in safe locations as directed by
authorities. - Communicate
evacuation and safety procedures to vulnerable groups, especially
children, women, and older citizens.
In the words of the official National Flood Early Warning
Systems Centre statement,
“Stakeholders and residents must act swiftly to
limit the impact of this rainfall and potential flooding events”.
Nigeria now stands at a critical juncture as authorities and
citizens alike mobilize for what could be a defining climatic challenge of
2025. With lives and livelihoods hanging in the balance, the coming days will
test both the effectiveness of government intervention and the resilience of
local communities from Akwa Ibom to Gombe. Newsrooms across the world, from
Reuters to local Nigerian dailies, continue to monitor and report on the
unfolding crisis as the nation braces for the rain.
