By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria has placed 919 communities across 20 states on a “CRITICAL” flood alert, urging immediate evacuation preparations as rainfall peaks across the country.
The warning was contained in a Technical Advisory issued by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Center covering the period 10th to 23rd September, 2026.
The advisory was signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director, Erosion, Flood & Coastal Zone Management Department, Federal Ministry of Environment.
According to the advisory, communities were categorized into three risk levels based on the latest dataset.
At the highest level, 919 locations across 20 states were classified as CRITICAL. State Controllers, State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Government Environmental Officers and community flood focal persons have been directed to intensify surveillance around rivers, stream channels, culverts, bridges, drains, estuaries, reservoirs and other erosion-prone areas.
A further 425 locations across 7 states were listed as HIGH risk. Communities in this category have been advised to intensify drainage clearance, monitor culverts and watercourses, and maintain community-level reporting of rainfall, ponding, dam releases and changes in river levels.
The statement advised communities in this category to rapidly escalate any observed flood signs to the National Flood Early Warning Systems Center.
In addition, 656 communities across 13 states and the FCT were placed on MODERATE watch. Residents in these areas have been urged to sustain preventive maintenance and to remain alert through rainfall observation and general preparedness.
The Center noted that there are no unsupported meteorological values for the MODERATE category, as all records contain no populated weather fields.
The fresh warning comes amid federal government’s concern for people’s vulnerability to climate-driven flooding.
In 2024, floods affected more than 1.2 million people across 31 states, according to NEMA, with over 200 deaths and widespread destruction of farmlands and homes.
Last year’s floods in Borno, Bayelsa, and Kogi submerged entire communities, displaced tens of thousands, and cut off major highways including the Lokoja-Abuja road. The disaster also destroyed crops worth billions of naira, worsening food insecurity in already vulnerable states.
Experts say the pattern has become more severe due to poor drainage, unplanned urbanization, and extreme rainfall linked to climate change. With the River Niger and River Benue already rising, authorities fear 2026 could mirror or exceed previous years if early warnings are ignored.
The advisory urged all residents to comply with evacuation instructions issued by competent authorities.
It advised citizens to keep children away from floodwater, avoid driving or walking through flowing water, disconnect electricity where inundation is imminent, and safeguard medicines, documents, food and potable water.
“Feedback from relevant stakeholders, State Government representatives and community focal persons will support field validation and continuous updating of the National Flood Early Warning Systems Center database,” Bokani stated.
The Center added that predictions should be interpreted together with local observations, drainage conditions, river levels and official emergency directives.
The advisory comes as Nigeria contends with seasonal flooding that annually displaces thousands and destroys farmlands and infrastructure across flood-prone states.
