The Federal Government has predicted heavy rainfall and flooding across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, warning that over 1,200 communities are at high risk.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Terlumun Utsev, disclosed this during the public presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in Abuja. He said flooding remains one of Nigeria’s most devastating natural disasters, with climate change intensifying its frequency and severity.
According to the report, 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) fall within high-risk flood zones this year, while 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs face moderate flood threats. States like Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Edo are among those flagged for high flood risks. Other vulnerable areas include Abia, Benue, Lagos, and Jigawa.
The 2025 AFO has been segmented into three parts to help address flooding challenges and enhance mitigation strategies, particularly in vulnerable communities. A key innovation in this year’s outlook is the introduction of a community-based flood forecasting model. This approach allows for more targeted and actionable communication at the grassroots level, replacing broad generalizations with specific community alerts.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Richard Pheelangwah, emphasized the need for timely response. “This outlook isn’t just about numbers, it’s about protecting lives and livelihoods,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, explained that the 2025 forecast goes beyond mapping LGAs by identifying individual communities and assessing sectoral impacts on health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. He said the goal is to equip policymakers and disaster risk managers with robust tools for early warning and response.
