The Federal Ministry of Environment has issued an urgent alert warning of potential heavy rainfall and flooding across 16 states between October 4 and 8, 2025. The notice, released by the National Flood Early Warning Centre and signed by Usman Bokani, Director of the Erosion, Flood, and Coastal Zone Management Department, identified 39 high-risk locations nationwide. States likely to be affected include Delta, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Oyo, Kebbi, Kano, Niger, Kwara, Benue, Borno, Bayelsa, Cross River, Rivers, and Enugu.
The ministry urged state governments, emergency agencies, and local authorities to take proactive measures to reduce the potential impact of flooding, including public sensitization, drainage clearance, and early evacuation of vulnerable communities. The advisory follows months of erratic rainfall patterns that have already strained flood-prone regions across the country.
As of September 20, 2025, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that 232 people had died, 121,224 displaced, and 339,658 affected by floods nationwide, with 681 sustaining injuries. With more rains expected, the Ministry emphasized the need for heightened vigilance and community preparedness to prevent further loss of lives and livelihoods.
