Abuja: The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a warning that 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are at high risk of flooding in 2025. This alert was announced during the official presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the forecast also indicates that an additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs across 31 states and the FCT are expected to face moderate flood risk this year. States identified in the high-risk category include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, the FCT, Gombe, and Imo, among others.
Prof. Utsev emphasized that floods are one of the most destructive natural disasters, impacting lives, property, agriculture, and infrastructure. The 2025 forecast aims to raise awareness and encourage preparedness among citizens, particularly in vulnerable communities, and is timely given the recurring floods and their significant impacts.
The 2025 Annual Flood Outlook has been divided into three sections to enhance flood preparedness: a general flood forecast, a communication strategy for effective warning dissemination, and a mitigation plan to reduce exposure and vulnerability. The forecast anticipates high flood risk for 657 communities in 52 LGAs between April and June, 544 communities in 142 LGAs from July to September, and 484 communities in 56 LGAs from October to November. Moderate flood risk is projected for 445 communities in 116 LGAs from April to June, 1,458 communities in 271 LGAs from July to September, and 1,473 communities in 171 LGAs from October to November.
Flash and urban flooding are expected in major cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, and Makurdi, primarily due to poor drainage and weak infrastructure. Coastal states such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo may also experience flooding caused by rising sea levels and tidal surges, threatening livelihoods and river-based activities.
Prof. Utsev announced initiatives such as a National Flood Insurance Programme to be piloted in Kogi and Jigawa states, and the Niger Flood Project to enhance river navigation, flood control, and climate resilience. He highlighted plans to launch an Integrated Climate Resilience Project and the forthcoming Annual Drought Outlook, urging stakeholders to support government efforts in building flood-resilient communities and affirming the Federal Government’s commitment to proactive flood management.
Earlier, NIHSA Director General Umar Mohammed reiterated the agency’s commitment to using advanced technologies and fostering inter-agency collaboration to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts. This year’s forecast adopts a more community-focused approach, extending beyond local government areas to identify specific at-risk communities, aiming to equip decision-makers with actionable information to protect lives, livelihoods, and property.
The key highlights of the event included the formal presentation of the NIHSA Flood and Drought Dashboard and the unveiling of the National Flood Insurance Programme. Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the World Meteorological Agency, the National Water Resources Institute Kaduna, and others.