The Federal Government has issued a fresh flood warning to 17 states, alerting residents and authorities to prepare for possible flooding over the next seven days as rising river levels increase the risk of disasters in many communities.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) said communities located along river channels and floodplains in the affected states face a medium flood risk between July 21 and July 27.
The agency urged state governments, emergency agencies and residents in vulnerable areas to act immediately to prevent loss of lives and property.
The latest advisory was contained in the National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200), issued on Tuesday and signed by the Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed.
According to the advisory, the affected states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
The warning follows a steady rise in water levels recorded at several major river monitoring stations across the country.
Mohammed explained that river levels at Saminaka on the Karam River, Waya Dam site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River had already exceeded the agency’s watch and warning thresholds.
He said these developments increase the possibility of rivers overflowing their banks and causing localised flooding in nearby communities.
The NIHSA Director-General also disclosed that 16 gauging stations across Nigeria are currently recording elevated river levels, putting settlements close to rivers and floodplains at greater risk.
He stressed that although the flood risk has been classified as medium, communities should not treat the warning lightly because water levels could rise further if heavy rainfall continues.
Mohammed urged state governments and local authorities to begin immediate preventive measures rather than waiting until flooding occurs.
He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local government councils and traditional rulers to activate their emergency response plans without delay.
According to him, authorities should begin relocating residents, livestock and valuable property from flood-prone communities to safer locations before floodwaters arrive.
He further advised emergency agencies to pre-position relief materials such as food, medicines and water treatment supplies in areas likely to be affected to ensure quick response if flooding occurs.
The agency identified Bauchi State as the most vulnerable among the affected states.
According to NIHSA, as many as 1,841 communities in Bauchi face possible flooding during the warning period.
The agency also identified 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets in the state as being exposed to flood risk.
Beyond Bauchi, the agency listed several vulnerable communities and critical public facilities in Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states, warning that these locations require close monitoring throughout the advisory period.
Mohammed said community leaders have an important role to play in reducing the impact of flooding.
He encouraged them to mobilise residents through local communication channels, early warning volunteers and community groups to ensure flood alerts reach people quickly.
He also appealed to residents to follow official warnings and avoid unnecessary risks.
According to him, people should never attempt to walk, drive or ride motorcycles through flooded roads, bridges or fast-flowing streams because floodwaters can be deeper and more dangerous than they appear.
The NIHSA boss also advised state and local authorities to clear blocked drains, culverts and waterways to improve the free flow of water and reduce the likelihood of flooding in urban and rural communities.
He urged the public to monitor daily flood updates issued by the agency and comply with safety advice from emergency management authorities.
The latest advisory is the second flood warning issued by NIHSA within two weeks.
Only days earlier, the agency warned that 14 states could experience medium flood risk between July 14 and July 20 after analysing rainfall patterns and river levels across the country.
The states listed in that advisory included Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger and Plateau.
Residents in vulnerable communities were similarly advised to relocate where necessary and remain alert.
The repeated warnings suggest that the country’s flood season is becoming more active as rainfall intensifies across many parts of Nigeria.
Earlier this month, the Federal Ministry of Environment also raised concern over the increasing threat of flooding.
The ministry issued a nationwide flood alert covering 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, warning that heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in hundreds of communities.
It advised residents in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, pay attention to official weather forecasts and relocate where necessary to reduce the risk of casualties and property damage.
Flooding has become one of Nigeria’s most recurring natural disasters, especially during the rainy season.
Almost every year, heavy rainfall leads to overflowing rivers, collapsed bridges, damaged roads, destroyed farmlands and displacement of thousands of people.
The 2022 floods remain one of the worst in Nigeria’s history, affecting most states across the country, killing hundreds of people, displacing over one million residents and destroying homes, schools, hospitals and agricultural land.
The disaster also disrupted food production and contributed to rising food prices in many parts of the country.
The Federal Government has also continued to encourage residents living in flood-prone areas to cooperate with emergency agencies whenever evacuation becomes necessary.
Emergency management officials warn that ignoring flood advisories often leads to avoidable deaths, injuries and destruction of property.
With rainfall expected to continue across many parts of the country in the coming weeks, authorities are urging residents in the affected states to remain vigilant, monitor official weather and flood updates and take all necessary precautions to protect lives, livelihoods and property.