By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government has issued a critical flood alert for 38 locations across 11 states, warning residents of ongoing and intensified heavy rainfall expected to trigger widespread flooding between Wednesday, July 16, and Sunday, July 20, 2025.
With the high-risk period already underway, communities are urged to take immediate precautions.
The urgent warning, obtained by our correspondent, originates from the National Flood Early Warning Centre, a vital arm of the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.
States identified as highly vulnerable include Adamawa (specifically Mubi), Akwa Ibom (Edor, Upenekang, Oron, Eket), Borno (Ngala, Maiduguri), Bauchi (Azare, Bauchi, Itas, Jama’are, Kafin-Madaki, Jama’a, Kari, Misau), and Plateau (Jos, Bukuru, Mangu). Also at risk are Yobe (Jakusko, Machina, Dapchi), Katsina (Daura), Kano (Kunchi, Kano, Gezawa, Wudil, Bebeji, Sumaila, Tudun Wada), Jigawa (Miga, Gwaram, Diginsa, Ringim, Dutse), Cross River (Calabar, Akpap), and Zamfara (Bungudu, Gusau).
This critical forecast comes on the heels of the Federal Government’s recent move to establish a National Flood Insurance Policy, a proactive measure aimed at tackling Nigeria’s escalating susceptibility to flood disasters.
Speaking in June at the Technical Committee Meeting on the policy’s development, Mahmud Kambari, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, stressed that the rising flood incidents nationwide constitute a “national emergency” demanding swift and decisive action.
Kambari, represented by Kunle Awojemila, Deputy Director of the Department of Flood, Erosion Control and Coastal Management, attributed the recurrent severe flooding across Nigeria to a confluence of factors including climate change, rapid urbanization, and inadequate infrastructure.
He emphasized the imperative to transition from a reactive approach to a sustainable, proactive flood risk management strategy, positioning the National Flood Insurance Programme as a cornerstone for building long-term resilience.
The proposed insurance scheme is designed to offer a crucial financial safety net for individuals, communities, and businesses, simultaneously reducing government reliance on emergency relief funds and fostering shared responsibility among all levels of government and the private sector.
