Agency Urges Residents in Flood-Prone Communities to Move to Higher Ground
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has warned of a high risk of riverine flooding across 15 states between September 19 and 25, 2026, urging residents in vulnerable communities to relocate to safer and higher ground.
The warning was contained in the agency’s National Flood Advisory issued on Saturday by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Arch Umar Mohammed.
Mohammed said rising river levels could trigger flooding in several communities, putting schools, healthcare facilities, markets, farms and religious buildings at risk.
He urged affected state governments to urgently relocate residents living in vulnerable areas ahead of the forecast.
NiHSA identified Imo, Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra and Akwa Ibom among the states at risk, alongside Edo, Bayelsa, Enugu, Kogi, Delta, Abia, Taraba, Rivers and Lagos.
In Imo, Aboh-Mbaise, Ahiazu-Mbaise, Ehime Mbano, Ezinihitte, Ideato North, Ihitte/Uboma and Ikeduru were listed as vulnerable. The agency said 958 communities, 1,022 schools, 553 healthcare facilities, 161 markets and 198 religious buildings were exposed.
In Cross River, the affected areas include Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Biase, Calabar, Calabar South, Ikom and Obubra. NiHSA identified 2,471 communities, 703 schools, 344 healthcare facilities, 145 markets, 453 religious buildings and 854 hectares of farmland as exposed.
In Ebonyi, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Afikpo South, Ebonyi, Ezza North and Ezza South were identified as vulnerable, with 2,574 communities, 1,064 schools, 422 healthcare facilities, 480 markets, 629 religious buildings and 1,882 hectares of farmland exposed.
Benue’s affected areas include Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum, where 303 communities, 100 schools, 48 healthcare facilities, 32 markets, 151 religious buildings and 55 hectares of farmland were listed as exposed.
In Anambra, NiHSA identified Aguata, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South and Ayamelum as vulnerable. The areas include 1,314 communities, 1,308 schools, 1,089 healthcare facilities, 280 markets, 610 religious buildings and 1,529 hectares of farmland.
The agency also listed Abak, Eket, Etinan, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Ika and Ikono in Akwa Ibom, with 249 communities, 323 schools, 211 healthcare facilities, 74 markets and 289 religious buildings exposed.
NiHSA said rising river stages were expected to cause flooding, particularly around floodplains, and urged residents in affected communities to take precautionary measures and move to higher ground where necessary.