By John Umeh
The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a stern flood warning for the month of July 2025, revealing that 20 states are at high risk of severe flooding—despite a previous intervention effort totaling ₦620 billion aimed at mitigating such disasters. The alert, issued through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has raised fresh concerns about the country’s preparedness and infrastructure resilience as the rainy season intensifies.
20 States on High Alert
According to the latest hydrological forecast and satellite data, the following states have been identified as most vulnerable to heavy floods in July: Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Anambra, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Taraba, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, and Kwara.
These states are expected to experience varying degrees of riverine, flash, and coastal flooding due to rising water levels, poor drainage systems, and blocked waterways, exacerbated by climate change and urban development challenges.
Despite ₦620bn Spent, Risk Persists
The alarm comes in the wake of a ₦620 billion intervention reportedly channeled toward flood control infrastructure, early warning systems, and relief materials. The allocation, spread across federal, state, and local government initiatives, was intended to reduce the annual loss of lives, homes, and farmlands.
However, many observers and residents argue that the impact of the intervention remains largely invisible, citing continued lack of embankments, functional drainage systems, and emergency shelters in high-risk zones.
NEMA and NIHSA Sound the Warning
Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, stated during a press briefing that the agency has activated response coordination centers and is collaborating with state emergency agencies to conduct sensitization, pre-deployment of relief materials, and evacuation drills.
“The warning is not a scare tactic. It’s a call to action. We urge all state governments and communities in high-risk areas to act swiftly,” Ahmed said.
NIHSA also emphasized that increased rainfall in July—combined with the opening of upstream dams in neighboring countries like Cameroon—could lead to overflow in major rivers such as the Niger and Benue.
Communities Urged to Relocate and Prepare
In anticipation of the looming flood crisis, NEMA has advised residents in flood-prone communities to move to higher grounds, avoid building along water channels, and heed early warnings from local authorities.
Farmers are also being warned to harvest early and protect livestock and equipment as part of a coordinated flood preparedness strategy. Relief agencies have begun positioning food, tents, medical supplies, and rescue boats in strategic locations.
Call for Transparency and Accountability
Civil society organizations and disaster experts have demanded greater transparency and accountability in how flood funds are disbursed and spent. Many fear that without urgent action, the damage could mirror or surpass that of previous years, when over 2.5 million people were displaced and more than 600 killed in nationwide flooding.
“It’s not enough to allocate billions. Nigerians deserve to see the results on the ground—dikes, dams, drainage systems, and disaster response units must be functional,” said environmental activist Bisi Agbaje.
Way Forward
The Federal Government has promised tighter coordination between agencies like NEMA, NIHSA, NiMet, the Ministry of Environment, and state governments. It also vowed to continue working with international partners to enhance data accuracy, emergency response, and climate resilience.
As the rainfall intensifies across the country, the success of these efforts will be measured not in policy documents or press statements, but in the lives saved, homes preserved, and disasters averted.
Nigerians in affected areas are being urged to remain vigilant, report early signs of flooding, and follow evacuation orders where issued—because in the face of nature’s fury, preparedness remains the only true defense.
The States Listed by NEMA
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Lagos
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Rivers
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Bayelsa
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Delta
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Anambra
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Kogi
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Benue
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Niger
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Kebbi
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Jigawa
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Kano
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Katsina
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Taraba
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Adamawa
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Ebonyi
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Abia
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Cross River
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Akwa Ibom
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Ogun
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Kwara
