The Federal Ministry of Environment has warned that heavy rainfall over the next five days could trigger flooding across 16 states in Nigeria. The warning covers the period from October 4 to October 8, 2025.
The alert, released by the National Flood Early Warning Centre and signed by Usman Bokani, Director of the Ministry’s Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, predicts that flooding may affect 39 locations nationwide.
The states identified as high-risk include Delta, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Oyo, Kebbi, Kano, Niger, Kwara, Benue, Borno, Bayelsa, Cross River, Rivers, and Enugu. Specific locations under threat include Asaba, Damaturu, Isa, Gusau, Jibia, Oyo, Ribah, Gwarzo, Kontagora, Kosubosu, Gboko, Briyel, Brass, Edor, Itu, and Nsukka, among others.
The ministry has urged state governments and relevant stakeholders to implement precautionary measures to reduce the potential impact of the expected floods.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), floods earlier this year have already claimed at least 232 lives and displaced more than 121,000 people. The 2025 flood dashboard indicates that 339,658 individuals have been affected nationwide, with 681 sustaining injuries of varying severity.
Authorities continue to call for heightened awareness and preparedness as the rainy season progresses, stressing the need for proactive measures to safeguard lives and property.
