The Federal Government has forecasted heavy rains and widespread flooding in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in 2025.
High-risk states include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the FCT.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, issued the warning on Thursday during the public presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in Abuja.
Utsev stated that coastal and riverine flooding would particularly affect parts of the South-South geopolitical zone due to rising sea levels, naming Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states as high-risk areas, with Akwa Ibom and Edo also under serious threat.
He emphasized that flooding remains one of Nigeria’s most devastating natural disasters, with climate change significantly increasing its frequency and severity.
According to the 2025 AFO, 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 30 states and the FCT are at high flood risk, while an additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs face moderate risk. Key vulnerable states include Abia, Benue, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Jigawa.
To enhance early warning and response, the 2025 outlook introduces a community-based flood forecasting approach. Unlike previous forecasts, predictions are now tailored to specific communities to improve preparedness and emergency response at the grassroots level.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, urged stakeholders to act swiftly, stressing that the outlook is “not just about numbers, but about protecting lives and livelihoods.”
Director General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, added that the 2025 flood forecast goes beyond mapping LGAs and now identifies specific communities and sectors—such as health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure—that are at risk.
“This new focus offers policymakers and disaster managers more robust tools to mitigate the impacts of flooding,” he said.
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