AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Federal Government has issued a five-day flood alert, warning of imminent heavy rainfall and possible flooding in 19 states across 76 locations from August 5 to 9, 2025.
The alert was announced on Tuesday by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre under the Federal Ministry of Environment. It urged residents and stakeholders in the affected areas to take immediate precautionary steps to mitigate risks.
This warning follows reports of severe flooding on Tuesday in Ogun and Gombe states, with other states such as Lagos, Plateau, Anambra, and Delta also reportedly impacted.
According to flood projections obtained by our correspondent, the states and locations likely to be affected include 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) and Kebbi (Bagudo, Birnin-Kebbi, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, Kalgo, Kamba, Kangiwa, Shanga, Ribah, Sakaba, Saminaka, Yelwa, Gauri-Banza).
Others are Kano (Bebeji, Gezawa, Gwarzo, Kano, Karaye, Tudun-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) and Gombe (Bajoga).
Flooding has remained a recurring disaster in Nigeria, claiming lives and destroying properties year after year. In 2024 alone, 31 states were affected, with hundreds killed, thousands injured, and over 1.2 million people impacted.
A particularly devastating incident occurred on September 10, 2024, when the Alau Dam in Borno State collapsed, leading to severe flooding that claimed at least 150 lives, displaced over 419,000 people, and submerged about 70 percent of the community.
According to a recent report by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), at least 191 people have died from flood-related incidents in 2025, with 94 still missing. Additionally, 165 people were previously confirmed dead, 82 missing, and 119,791 affected across 43 Local Government Areas in 19 states.
NEMA further noted that 138 persons sustained injuries, 43,936 displaced, 8,594 houses damaged, and 8,278 farmlands destroyed. Women and children have been identified as the most vulnerable victims.
Authorities continue to urge residents in flood-prone areas to stay alert and adhere to early warning instructions to prevent further loss of lives and property.
