By Chiamaka Egwu
The Federal Government has warned residents in 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, of heightened flood risk between September 27 and October 10, 2026, citing rising river levels, saturated soil, heavy rainfall and increased surface runoff.
The warning, contained in a flood prediction issued by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre under the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, identified several communities across the country as critical, high or moderate flood-risk areas during the period.
In an advisory signed by the Director of the department, Usman Abdullahi Bokani, the Centre said the risk was being driven by a combination of elevated antecedent soil moisture, rainfall, rapid surface runoff, drainage surcharge and rising river levels.
States with communities classified as critical-risk areas include Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.
The FCT, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa and Kebbi were also listed among areas with communities facing high flood risk.
The warning covers several major urban centres, including Makurdi, Lokoja, Minna, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Asaba, Calabar, Uyo, Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Ado-Ekiti, Lagos, Abeokuta, Akure, Osogbo and Ibadan.
In the FCT, Abuja Municipal, Asokoro, Bwari, Garki, Gwagwalada, Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Kuje, Kwali, Lugbe, Maitama, Nyanya and Wuse were among locations placed on the high-risk list.
The Centre said several riverine and coastal communities in Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom were particularly exposed, with communities in those states placed in the critical-risk category.
It urged communities classified as critical to maintain an immediate flood watch, verify evacuation routes and protect vulnerable households and essential assets.
Residents were also advised to avoid settling, parking, trading or storing goods within active floodplains, wetlands, riverbanks and low-lying drainage corridors.
The Centre directed State Controllers, State Emergency Management Agencies, local government environmental officers and community flood focal persons to intensify surveillance around rivers, streams, culverts, bridges, drains, estuaries, reservoirs and erosion-prone corridors.
For high-risk communities, it called for intensified drainage clearance and close monitoring of culverts and watercourses, with rapid reporting of rainfall, ponding, dam releases and changes in river levels.
It urged communities on the moderate-risk watchlist to remain vigilant, warning that prolonged or consecutive rainfall could rapidly increase local flood risk.
The Centre further advised residents to comply with evacuation orders from competent authorities, keep children away from floodwater and avoid driving or walking through flowing water.
Residents were also advised to disconnect electricity where inundation was imminent and protect medicines, important documents, food and potable water.
The Centre stressed that the forecast should be interpreted alongside real-time local observations, drainage conditions, river levels and official emergency directives.
It added that feedback from state governments, stakeholders and community focal persons would be used to update the national flood-risk database.
