FG alerts 28 states, FCT on devastating floods as heavy rains expected July 19–Aug 1

From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

The Federal Government has urged residents near riverbanks, floodplains, wetlands, and drainage channels to stay alert and follow warnings from emergency management agencies. It has notified 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory about possible severe flooding over the next two weeks.

In a statement, the National Flood Early Warning Systems Center of the Federal Ministry of Environment said widespread flooding is most likely to happen between July 19 and August 1, 2026, due to ongoing rainfall, saturated soils, rising river levels, and overwhelmed drainage systems.

The alert noted that both northern and southern states are at risk.

Still, densely populated urban areas, coastal settlements, and riverine communities in the south face greater risks of flash floods, river overflows, and coastal flooding.

According to the forecast, twenty-three states are classified as being under critical flood risk. These include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, and Taraba.

The government also identified major cities and commercial hubs that are likely to face severe flooding.

In Lagos, at-risk areas include Lekki, Ikorodu, Agege, Apapa, Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Badagry, and Lagos Island.

In the South-East, vulnerable communities listed are Aba, Umuahia, Arochukwu, Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Nkpor, Obosi, Anambra West, Ayamelum, Omor, Nzam, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Enugu metropolis, Nsukka, Owerri, and Orlu.

The South-South region is also expected to experience significant impacts. In Bayelsa, alerts were issued for Yenagoa, Brass, Nembe, Kaiama, Ogbia, Sagbama, Ekeremor, and Kolokuma/Opokuma. In Rivers: Port Harcourt, Bonny, Okrika, Ahoada, Omoku, Eleme, and Degema.

In Delta, there are Warri, Asaba, Sapele, Ughelli, Bomadi, Burutu, Patani, and Escravos. And tn Cross River – Calabar, Bakassi, Ikom, Ogoja, and Ugep.

Also, residents in Akwa Ibom, Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Ekiti are also warned to prepare for possible urban flooding that could disrupt transportation, damage homes and businesses, and destroy farms.

In North-Central, communities requiring close monitoring include Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Idah, and Ibaji in Kogi; Makurdi, Agatu, Buruku, Guma, and Logo in Benue; and Minna, Mokwa, Shiroro, Suleja, and Bida in Niger State, due to rising river levels and proximity to floodplains.

The forecast also listed Yola, Mubi, Song, Aanye in Adamawa, and Jalingo, Karim Lamido, Takum, Wukari in Taraba as areas that might face severe flooding if the current rainfall pattern continues.

Beyond the critical-risk zones, the government stated that Adamawa, FCT, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Plateau, and parts of Taraba are under h. At the same time, surveillance is ongoing in 531 communities across Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, which are classified as moderate-risk areas.

Furthermore, the Federal Government instructed State Emergency Management Agencies, local government councils, and community-based flood response volunteers to increase monitoring of rivers, bridges, culverts, and erosion-prone locations.

It also advised residents in high-risk areas to activate evacuation plans if needed, clear blocked drainage channels immediately, and report flood incidents to authorities promptly.

The statement added that the forecast should be interpreted alongside local weather conditions and official emergency alerts as the rainy season reaches its peak.