The Federal Government has warned of possible flooding across 24 states and the FCT between September 27 and October 10, 2026, citing heavy rainfall, rising river levels, saturated soil and increased surface runoff.
24 states + FCT are under flood-risk alerts.
States with communities classified as critical-risk include: Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Ekiti and Taraba.
High-risk areas include parts of the FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa and Kebbi.
Major cities covered include Aba, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Asaba, Calabar, Uyo, Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Lagos, Abeokuta, Akure, Osogbo, Ibadan, Makurdi and Lokoja.
Residents in critical-risk areas are advised to:
Monitor flood warnings closely.
Identify evacuation routes.
Protect vulnerable people and essential belongings.
Avoid settling, parking, trading or storing goods on floodplains, wetlands, riverbanks and low-lying drainage corridors.
Avoid walking or driving through flowing floodwater.
Follow evacuation orders from relevant authorities.
State emergency agencies and local authorities have been directed to intensify monitoring of rivers, drains, culverts, bridges, reservoirs and erosion-prone areas.
Residents are encouraged to report heavy rainfall, flooding, blocked drainage, dam releases and rising river levels to the appropriate authorities.
The Centre stressed that actual flood conditions should be assessed alongside real-time rainfall, drainage and river-level information.
Protect your valuable documents and save your life by running away if it’s necessary.