The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has warned that 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory are at high risk of flooding in 2025.
This was announced during the presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) in Abuja by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev.
He said flooding remains one of the most dangerous natural disasters in the country, damaging lives, property, farmlands, and roads.
“This forecast is to help people prepare, especially those living in flood-prone areas,” Utsev said. “Our focus this year is on community preparedness and adaptation.”
According to him, the AFO is divided into three parts:
- A general flood forecast
- A plan to improve communication and early warnings
- A guide on how to reduce damage from flooding
Utsev explained that between April and June 2025, 657 communities in 52 LGAs will likely face severe flooding. Between July and September, 544 communities in 142 LGAs are at high risk, while 484 communities in 56 LGAs could be affected between October and November.
For moderate flood risk, 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs across 31 states and the FCT are expected to be affected during the year.
The high-risk states include: Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Major cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, and Makurdi are also likely to experience flash floods, mostly due to poor drainage systems and weak infrastructure.
Utsev also said that coastal states like Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo may be affected by sea level rise and tidal surges, which could impact fishing and farming in those areas.
To tackle these problems, the government is launching new programmes, including:
- A National Flood Insurance Programme to start in Kogi and Jigawa
- The Niger Flood Project to improve river use, flood control, and climate preparedness
- An Integrated Climate Resilience Project
- A 2025 Annual Drought Outlook
NIHSA Director-General, Umar Mohammed, said the agency now uses better technology and works with other organisations to give accurate and early warnings.
“We are now focusing more on communities, not just LGAs,” he said.
“This year’s forecast looks at how floods could affect health, schools, farms, transport, and even clean water.”
The event also featured the launch of the NIHSA Flood and Drought Dashboard and the official unveiling of the National Flood Insurance Programme.
Messages of support came from groups like the World Meteorological Agency and the National Water Resources Institute Kaduna, who promised to support Nigeria in preventing flood disasters.
