Flood Crisis Looms: FG Issues Two-Week Alert for 31 States (Full List)

The Federal Government has warned that heavy floods are expected to hit 198 local government areas in 31 states and the Federal Capital Territory between August 7 and 21, 2025, placing over 832 communities at varying levels of risk.

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), in a statement on Thursday, categorised the flood threat into Very High, High, and Moderate risk levels, depending on local topography and projected rainfall intensity. Areas identified include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.

The agency also warned that more than 100 major transportation routes could be disrupted, with a high risk of displacement in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Director General Umar Mohammed urged residents to remain vigilant, follow early warning directives, and cooperate with emergency services. He appealed to state and local authorities to act swiftly, stressing that the alert is part of NiHSA’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

The warning comes just days after the Federal Ministry of Environment, through its National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre, issued a similar advisory for 19 states.

In Lagos, the state government has been assessing damage from Monday’s marathon downpour, which lasted more than 13 hours and left parts of Ikorodu severely flooded. Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said ongoing drainage projects would help reduce flooding in the long term but acknowledged that the intensity of the rainfall was unprecedented in decades. He urged residents to avoid dumping waste in drains and to respect environmental regulations.

However, Labour Party’s 2023 Lagos governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, faulted the government’s advice for some residents to vacate affected areas without providing a relocation plan. He described the approach as lacking compassion and called for actionable emergency measures.

The Lagos State Catfish and Allied Farmers Association has also reported losses exceeding ₦150 million, with more than 50 farms in Ikorodu and surrounding areas washed away. Vice President Olatoye Fajimi said the torrential rains caused widespread damage overnight, leaving farmers without an opportunity to salvage their stock. The association is seeking government intervention to help affected farmers recover.