Red Alert: Nigeria Braces For Flood Threat Across 11 States

NIGERIA is on edge as the Federal Government has raised a red flag over looming floods in 32 locations across 11 states, urging at-risk communities to act fast before disaster strikes. The alert, which covers from 14 to 18 of September, underscores the growing urgency of climate shocks as heavy rains swell the country’s major rivers.

The warning, issued by the National Flood Early Warning Centre under the Ministry of Environment, paints a sobering picture: swelling waters from the River Niger, River Benue, and River Gongola could spill into surrounding communities, submerging homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure.

According to the notice signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, the threat zones span the country’s north, central belt, and delta region.

The Hotspots

• Adamawa State: Ganye, Natubi

• Benue State: Abinsi, Agyo, Gogo, Ito, Makurdi, Udoma, Ukpiam

• Nasarawa State: Agima, Rukubi, Odogbo

• Taraba State: Beli, Serti, Donga

• Delta State: Umugboma, Umukwata, Abraka, Aboh, Okpo-Krika

• Niger State: Rijau

• Kebbi State: Ribah

• Kano State: Gwarzo, Karaye

• Katsina State: Jibia

• Sokoto State: Makira

• Zamfara State: Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, Maradun, Gusau, Anka, Bungudu

Communities along the River Gongola up to Numan, and those stretching across the floodplains of the Benue and Niger rivers up to Lokoja, are singled out as most vulnerable.

A Call for Urgent Evacuations

The ministry’s advice is blunt: move now, or risk being trapped by rising waters. Evacuations are being urged in the most flood-prone areas, while state governments, emergency agencies, and local authorities are expected to swing into action with rapid-response measures.

“This is not a drill,” a senior official told reporters. “We are asking stakeholders to act quickly. The science is clear, and the waters are already rising.”

More Than a Seasonal Crisis

Nigeria’s flooding challenges are becoming a recurring nightmare. In 2022, devastating floods killed over 600 people and displaced millions, with the River Niger and Benue once again at the center of the disaster. Experts warn that unless early warnings are matched with swift action, the country risks reliving those painful losses.

For communities along riverbanks, the floods are not just about temporary displacement—they threaten food security, livelihoods, and even long-term survival. Farmers fear ruined harvests, while traders worry about washed-out roads cutting off supplies.

Climate Wake-Up Call

Environmentalists see the alert as another wake-up call about climate change’s intensifying grip on Nigeria. Erratic rainfall patterns, coupled with poor urban planning and blocked drainage systems, have worsened the country’s vulnerability.

“The floods are not just natural; they are aggravated by human negligence,” said one climate advocate. “We need more than warnings—we need long-term investment in drainage, dikes, and resilient infrastructure.”

What Happens Next?

The next four days will be critical. If the rains intensify as predicted, some of Nigeria’s most densely populated regions could face inundation. Whether the government’s call for preparedness and swift evacuation is heeded will determine the scale of the disaster.

For now, communities across 11 states are holding their breath, watching the skies and the rivers, knowing that every passing hour could tip them closer to crisis.