How to stay safe as Nigerian govment agency say thousands of communities go see ogbonge flood within next seven days

Houses dey half subsumed under flood water from di 2022 flood disaster for Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States
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Di Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) don warn about high riverine flood risk across 15 states between September 19 and 25, 2026.

For inside one national flood advisory wey di agency oga kpatakpata - Umar Mohammed - release ova di weekend, e tok say thousands of communities, schools, healthcare facilities, markets, farms and religious buildings dey at risk.

Already dis Monday morning, di Lagos State govment, wey be one of di states wey dis flood dey expected to happun, don cut warning give dia residents wey dey stay for flood-prone areas, make dem kiakia relocate temporarily to higher grounds.

"Wen di signs show say danger dey, di safest decision na to move early. No property dey worth risking your life," Tokunbo Wahab, di Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources for Lagos State, tok.

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States and communities wey dis flood go affect

According to di advisory wey NiHSA bin issue, di 15 states wey dey likely to experience dis flood within days na:

  • Imo
  • Cross River
  • Delta
  • Ebonyi
  • Benue
  • Anambra
  • Akwa Ibom
  • Edo
  • Enugu
  • Bayelsa
  • Kogi
  • Abia
  • Taraba
  • Rivers
  • Lagos

For Imo State, di local govment areas wey fit dey affected na: Aboh-Mbaise, Ahiazu-Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Ezinihitte, Ideato North, Ihitte Uboma and Ikeduru LGAs.

In total, 958 communities, 1,022 schools, 553 healthcare facilities, 161 markets and 198 religious buildings dey exposed to flooding for Imo State.

Cross River State fit get veri high impact if dis flood disaster hapun, wit 2,471 communities, 703 schools, 344 health facilities, 145 markets, 453 religious centres and 854 hectares of farmland exposed, according to oga Mohammed of NiHSA.

Di local govment area wey dey at rist for di State na Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Biase, Calabar, Calabar South, Ikom and Obubra.

Ebonyi State na anoda place wey di flood go affect well well, wit 2,574 communities, 1,064 schools, 422 healthcare facilities, 480 markets, 629 religious buildings and 1,882 hectares of farmland exposed, across Abakaliki, Afikpo, Afikpo South, Ebonyi, Ezza North and Ezza South local govment areas.

For Anambra State, Aguata, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South and Ayamelum LGAs dey at risk, wit more dan one thousand communities, schools, and healthcare facilities affected respectively.

Nine LGAs go dey affected for Akwa Ibom State, and dem be: Abak, Eket, Etinan, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Ika and Ikono.

In total, almost 250 communities and more dan 320 schools go get impact if di flood hit.

For Benue State, Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum LGAs, go experience di flood, and just ova 300 communities, 100 schools, 48 healthcare facilities, 32 markets, 151 religious buildings and 55 hectares of farmland dey exposed.

Di Lagos State govment, for dia statement on Monday tok say di following areas na wia di flood fit hit more: Eti-Osa, Lagos Island LGA, Oke-Ira Nla (Ajah), Kirikiri (Sea Port), Ilaje Waterfront Jetty, and Jetty Terminal B, among odas.

Wetin to do bifor and during di flood

Red toyota camry saloon car wey dey stuck for di middle of flooded road as di owners dey try to push di car
Wetin we call dis foto, Avoid crossing flooded roads and fast-moving water, weda on foot or inside motor - NiHSA

According to oga Umar Mohammed of NiHSA, di first warning na make "communities wey dey di floodplain prepare to move to higher ground".

Oda precaustions for communities, releif agencies and govment include:

  • Activate local early-warning and response mechanisms
  • Always dey check flood advisories and river-level updates wey NiHSA dey publish regularly
  • Avoid crossing flooded roads, bridges and fast-moving water, weda on foot or inside vehicles
  • Authorities, communities suppose position relief materials, safe drinking water, water-treatment supplies and first-aid materials ahead of time
  • Identify and prepare safe shelters for possible temporary evacuation
  • Wia e dey safe to do so, residents suppose clear blocked drainage channels and river outlets
  • Avoid any construction or habitation on top vulnerable floodplain areas.
  • Early action and obedienc to official flood warnings dey critical to reduce di risk of loss of lives, property and livelihoods

Flood disasters in Nigeria

People dey try to cross flooded water wey reach dia chest region
Wetin we call dis foto, Di 2022 flood disaster na di worst in recent times for Nigeria, but di flood of 2012 wey kpai more dan 300 pipo across Nigeria dey considered as di worst for di kontri entire history

Several parts of Nigeria dey witness flood incidents evri year sake of too much rainfall, especially during di rainy season.

Also, parts of Nigeria dey experience flood sake of di Lagdo Dam for neighbouring Cameroon, wey if di kontri authorities open am to let go of excess water, e dey cause ogbonge flooding for Nigeria communities wey dey along im corridor.

E also get flood disasters wey be as a result of di bursting of dams for inside Nigeria, like di flood of September 2024 for Borno State, wen di Alau Dam for dia bin burst.

Dat disaster na di worst wey Borno State don witness for di last 30 years, and communities like Adamkolo, Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin bin all dey affected.

Also, for 2022, ogbonge flood disaster hama many parts of Nigeria, wit States for di Nigeri Delta like Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States getting di worst hit.

Howeva, di flood disaster wey dey considered as di worst for Nigeria history na di one of July 2012, wey bin affect about 30 out of di 36 States for di kontri, pursue more dan 2.1 million pipo from dia homes, and kpai at least 363 pipo.

Economic sabi pipo estimate say goods and property wey worth more dan 2 trillion naira bin dey damaged for dat flood across Nigeria.