Nigeria Issues 2026 Flood Alert, 33 States, FCT At Risk
Nigeria has issued the 2026 flood alert, placing 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at risk of massive flooding.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev said 14,118 communities in 266 local government areas across 33 states and the FCT are at risk of high flooding in 2026.
The Minister disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday at the presentation of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook.
He listed the states as Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
Utsev also said 15,597 Communities in 405 LGAs 35 States except Ekiti State will experience moderate flood risk, while 923 communities in 77 LGAs in 24 states will experience minimal flooding.
The States are Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.”
He said major floods will occur between April and November, 2026, and will affect agriculture, livelihoods, livestock and infrastructure.
“This year, 9,021 communities in 188 LGAs across the country fall within the High Flood Risk areas in the months of April, May and June; while 14,158 communities in 263 LGAs in the months of July, August and September; and 11,575 communities in 224 LGAs in the months of October and November, 2026 are within the High Flood Risk zones.”
He further said there would moderate flood in 8,225 communities in 228 LGAs within the months of April, May and June; and 15,621 communities in 407 LGAs within the months of July, August and September; and 9,263 communities in 272 LGAs within the months of October and November, 2026.
According to the minister, flash and urban flooding are projected in major cities in the country due to high rainfall, poor drainage systems and other flood resilience structures.
The flash flood will affect cities like Abakaliki, Abeokuta, Abuja, Asaba, Benin City, Birnin Kebbi, Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Makurdi, Nguru, Onitsha, Oshogbo, Port Harcourt, Sokoto, Warri and Yola, among others.
Also expected within the period under review is Coastal and Riverine Flooding in areas like Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo due to rise in sea level and tidal surge, which would impact fishing, wildlife habitation and river navigation.
The Minister called on state governments, local authorities, disaster management agencies, farmers, and community leaders to carefully study the report and prepare for the coming floods.
