THE Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has issued a flood alert covering Lagos, Rivers, the Federal Capital Territory, and 28 additional states.
The warning comes in response to rising river levels and persistent rainfall across the country.
In a statement released yesterday, NIHSA’s Director General, Umar Ibrahim, said there is a high to very high risk of flooding between August 7 and August 21. States expected to be affected include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, and Nasarawa. Others are Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara.
According to the agency, 198 local government areas and 832 communities fall within the predicted flood impact zone.
It warned that major transportation routes could be disrupted and urged emergency management authorities to activate response protocols. Evacuation plans should also be prepared for at-risk communities.
NIHSA encouraged residents to stay updated through its weekly state and community-level forecasts, the online flood dashboard, and official social media platforms.
The advisory forms part of its ongoing measures to mitigate the annual damage caused by seasonal flooding, which has continued to displace thousands and destroy infrastructure.
Meanwhile,the Lagos State Government has called on residents in parts of Lekki, Ikorodu, and Ajegunle to move from low-lying areas to higher ground to avoid flood hazards.
Environment Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab specifically advised people living around Ajegunle, the Majidu area of Ikorodu, and some parts of the Lekki corridor to relocate.
Wahab noted that while areas like Epe, Mushin, and Ikeja are generally safe, residents of Isheri in the OPIC axis should remain vigilant.
He explained that as a coastal city, Lagos is vulnerable to the effects of climate change and will experience flash flooding this year, with rainfall levels projected by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to surpass last year’s.
Recent heavy rains that began Sunday night and persisted into Monday evening left parts of Lagos submerged, with homes, vehicles, and streets flooded. The sitution disrupted business activities in Nigeria’s commercial hub.
Despite the challenges, Wahab assured residents that the state government is actively clearing drainage systems and widening flood channels to reduce the impact of flooding.