By Adenike Lawal
As Nigeria braces for the peak of the rainy season, 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory have swung into action to prevent a looming flood disaster that threatens to engulf over 1,200 communities across 176 local government areas.
This swift mobilisation follows a stark warning from the Federal Government, which has forecasted heavy and prolonged rainfall between April and November.
The alert, issued during the launch of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency in Abuja, has sparked urgent preparations nationwide.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, revealed that states at the highest risk include Lagos, Bayelsa, Benue, Kogi, Rivers, Delta and Adamawa among others.
He raised alarm over the growing frequency and intensity of floods, blaming climate change for the worsening crisis.
Professor Utsev singled out coastal and riverine regions as especially vulnerable, warning that communities in these areas could face severe consequences if preventative steps are not taken immediately.
“This is not a time for complacency,” he declared. “The risk is real and the time to act is now.”
State governments are now deploying emergency response teams, clearing drainages and sensitising residents in flood-prone zones to mitigate the impending threat.
Experts warn that without sustained intervention, the floods could endanger lives, displace thousands and disrupt critical infrastructure across the nation.
With the memory of past floods still fresh, Nigeria watches anxiously, hoping that proactive measures will avert another national disaster.
