Thousands of Nigerians affected by the devastating 2024 floods remain stranded and without aid, despite repeated appeals for support. Many communities continue to grapple with the aftermath—displacement, destruction of property, and loss of livelihoods—as they await meaningful intervention from federal and state authorities.
This comes as the Federal Government has issued a stark warning: 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) face a high risk of flooding in 2025.
Last year’s floods wreaked havoc across numerous states. The collapse of the Alau Dam in Borno State on September 10, 2024, alone claimed the lives of at least 150 people, displaced hundreds, and submerged farmlands and homes—particularly in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas. Similarly, Benue, Jigawa, Bayelsa, Kebbi, and Kogi states recorded massive destruction.
30 States, FCT Identified as High-Risk Areas
At the public presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) in Abuja, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, listed the states most at risk. These 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.
According to Utsev, 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) fall under the high-risk flood zone, while 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs nationwide are projected to experience moderate flooding.
“Floods this year are expected to have a significant impact on lives, agriculture, infrastructure, and the environment,” the minister warned.
Breakdown of high-risk communities by period:
April – June 2025: 666 communities in 52 LGAs across 14 states
July – September 2025: 549 communities in 114 LGAs across 30 states
October – November 2025: 489 communities in 56 LGAs across 13 states
The detailed breakdown is available in the AFO report.
Moderate Flooding Forecasted in More Regions
Moderate impact floods are also predicted in:
April – June 2025: 445 communities in 116 LGAs across 24 states
July – September 2025: 1,458 communities in 271 LGAs across 33 states
October – November 2025: 1,473 communities in 171 LGAs across 26 states
Urban Flooding to Hit Major Cities
Flash and urban floods are expected in several metropolitan areas due to poor drainage infrastructure, unmanaged waterways, and intense rainfall. Cities on high alert include:
Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Kaduna, Calabar, Onitsha, Warri, Abeokuta, Asaba, Sokoto, Yola, Makurdi, Oshogbo, Nguru, Abakaliki, and Birnin-Kebbi.
Coastal Flooding Due to Sea Level Rise
Coastal states including Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo will face the additional threat of coastal flooding from rising sea levels and tidal surges—affecting fisheries, marine life, and river navigation.
Federal Government’s Strategic Interventions
To tackle these threats, the federal government has introduced a multi-pronged strategy through the 2025 AFO, focusing on:
Flood Forecasting – to anticipate and model flood scenarios;
Flood Risk Communication – to ensure communities and disaster agencies can act proactively;
Flood Mitigation and Adaptation – to outline required infrastructural and behavioral interventions.
National Flood Insurance Programme (NFIP): a pioneering policy offering protection to vulnerable households, farmers, and livestock owners, with pilot schemes launching in Kogi and Jigawa states.
Integrated Climate Resilience Innovation Project (I-CRIP): designed to enhance food security, water management, and energy production through climate-smart technologies.
The Niger Flood Project: a comprehensive river management effort from Lokoja to Bayelsa aimed at improving navigation, irrigation, hydropower generation, and eco-tourism potential.
Additionally, a National Drought Outlook will be released later this year to support sustainable water resource management.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, urged state governments and emergency agencies to act swiftly.
“This outlook is not just a report of statistics—it’s a critical warning to safeguard lives and livelihoods,” he emphasized.