The Nigerian government has raised alarm over impending severe flooding projected to affect 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between April and November 2025.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, unveiled these critical findings during the presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in Abuja.
The forecast identifies specific high-risk states including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, and Jigawa, with additional states like Lagos, Kogi, Rivers, and Niger also facing significant threats.
The report also highlights particular concerns for seven coastal states – Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo – where rising sea levels may trigger catastrophic coastal flooding.
These water surges threaten to disrupt critical economic activities including fishing industries, wildlife ecosystems, and river transportation networks.
Minister Utsev further emphasized that urban centers face compounded risks due to poor drainage systems, blocked waterways, and inadequate flood control infrastructure, making them vulnerable to flash floods during intense rainfall periods.
The NIHSA’s advanced forecasting now pinpoints exact communities rather than just LGAs, enabling targeted preparedness measures.
Federal Government Outlines Mitigation Strategies Amid Looming Crisis
While presenting the alarming data, Minister Utsev stressed that unlike other natural disasters, flooding remains preventable with proper planning and infrastructure investment.
“Our forecasts now target specific communities to enhance grassroots preparedness,” he stated, revealing the government’s shift toward localized flood management strategies. Permanent Secretary Richard Pheelangwah reinforced the urgency for early action, framing the outlook as not merely statistical but as a vital tool for safeguarding lives and livelihoods nationwide.
The NIHSA’s Director-General, Umar Mohammed, detailed their upgraded methods incorporating real-time data analytics and inter-agency collaboration to assess potential impacts on critical sectors including public health, education systems, agricultural productivity, and transportation infrastructure.
Comprehensive State-by-State Flood Risk Assessment
The 2025 AFO classifies flood vulnerability into two tiers: 1,249 communities across 176 LGAs in high-risk zones and 2,187 communities across 293 LGAs in moderate-risk areas.
High-risk states span all geopolitical zones, from Kebbi and Sokoto in the northwest to Taraba and Adamawa in the northeast, down to southern states like Rivers and Akwa Ibom.
The FCT appears on both risk categories, indicating potential flooding in satellite towns and some central districts. This granular community-level data marks a significant improvement from previous annual forecasts that only identified LGA-wide risks.
