By Abdullahi Lukman
At least 245 people have died and 214,997 others displaced by flooding across Nigeria in 2026, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has said.
Data from NEMA’s flood dashboard shows that 673,350 people have been affected across 134 Local Government Areas in 28 states as of October 20, 2026.
The figures were released as the agency called for stronger inter-agency collaboration, improved early warning systems and enhanced preparedness to address the humanitarian impact of flooding and other disasters.
Speaking at a meeting of key stakeholders in Abuja, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, said the scale of the disaster requires a review of ongoing interventions, identification of response gaps and coordinated efforts to meet the needs of affected communities.
Umar, who was represented by the Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Godwin Tepikor, stressed the need for increased surveillance, timely information sharing and coordinated preparedness to address emerging public health risks in flood-hit areas, where displacement, poor sanitation and limited access to essential services could worsen vulnerabilities.
She urged relevant institutions to harmonise climate forecasts, assess potential risks and translate early warnings into practical measures to protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.
According to her, effective disaster management requires a proactive, multisectoral approach that prioritises early warning, preparedness, risk reduction, timely response and sustainable recovery.
Umar called on participating agencies to strengthen operational cooperation, avoid duplication of efforts and prioritise vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
She disclosed that NEMA convened the National Emergency Coordination Forum, NECF, to assess ongoing flood response operations, improve inter-agency coordination and harmonise preparedness ahead of the anticipated 2026/2027 El Niño phenomenon.
Also speaking, Deputy Director, Planning, Research and Forecasting, Tony Ephraim, urged participants to identify operational gaps, improve information sharing and develop practical recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s disaster preparedness and response capacity.
