The Federal Government has issued a strong warning to residents in flood-prone areas across 11 states, urging them to evacuate immediately as heavy rainfall is expected to trigger severe flooding between September 14 and 18, 2025.
The alert was released by the National Flood Early Warning Centre under the Ministry of Environment and signed by Usman Bokani, Director of the Erosion, Flood, and Coastal Zone Management Department.
According to the advisory, 32 locations in Adamawa, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Delta, Niger, Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara States face high flood risk in the coming days.
In Benue State, vulnerable communities include Makurdi, Abinsi, Agyo, Ito, Udoma, Ukpiam, and Gogo.
In Delta State, Umugboma, Umukwata, Abraka, Aboh, and Okpo-Krika are on the alert list. Other affected towns are Rijau in Niger, Ribah in Kebbi, Jibia in Katsina, Gwarzo and Karaye in Kano, Makira in Sokoto, and multiple communities across Zamfara including Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, Maradun, Gusau, Anka, and Bungudu.
The ministry also highlighted the rising water levels of River Gongola, River Benue, and River Niger as a serious concern. Communities along these river floodplains stretching from Numan to Lokoja—have been advised to relocate without delay.
“Relevant stakeholders should kindly take note,” the ministry stated, stressing the urgent need for state governments, local authorities, and disaster agencies to act quickly to reduce the impact.
This warning comes just days after torrential rainfall displaced over 470 children and destroyed 270 homes in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Nigeria has battled recurring flood disasters, often worsened by poor drainage, unchecked urbanisation, and climate change.
Data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) shows that as of September 4, floods had already killed at least 231 people this year, with 114 others still missing. Another 607 sustained injuries across different states.
Last year’s flooding was even deadlier, displacing more than 1.2 million people, killing 1,237, and injuring 16,469 across 35 states. In total, 5.2 million Nigerians were affected.
As the latest alert spreads, residents in high-risk zones are being urged to move to safer areas, while state governments face mounting pressure to provide shelters and relief materials ahead of possible large-scale displacement.
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