FG issues fresh flood warning to 26 states, FCT

The Federal Ministry of Environment has warned that at least 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory may experience flooding between June 22 and July 5, 2026, following forecasts of heavy rainfall across several parts of the country.

In a flood prediction issued on Monday through the National Flood Early Warning Centre under the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, the ministry identified hundreds of communities across the country as either critical-risk or high-risk flood zones.

According to the advisory dated June 22, 2026, “The following locations and their environs are likely to witness heavy rainfall that MAY lead to flooding within the period of prediction: 22nd June – 5th July, 2026.”

States listed under the critical-risk category include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Rivers.

Some of the communities identified as highly vulnerable include Aba, Arochukwu and Umuahia in Abia State; Jimeta and Numan in Adamawa State; Eket, Oron and Uyo in Akwa Ibom State; Onitsha Inland Town and Awka Urban Drainage Corridors in Anambra State; and Yenagoa, Brass and Nembe Town in Bayelsa State.

The ministry also flagged Makurdi, Gboko and Katsina-Ala in Benue State; Calabar Metropolis and Creek Town in Cross River State; Asaba, Warri City and Sapele in Delta State; as well as Abakaliki, Afikpo and Onueke in Ebonyi State.

Other areas listed include Benin City Urban Core and Auchi in Edo State; Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State; Enugu, Nsukka and Oji River Town in Enugu State; Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe in Imo State; Lokoja and Ajaokuta in Kogi State; Ilorin, Jebba and Pategi in Kwara State; and several communities in Lagos State, including Agege, Alimosho, Apapa, Badagry, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Lekki and Surulere.

In Niger State, the ministry identified Bida, Minna, Mokwa, Suleja and Kontagora among areas at risk, while Abeokuta, Ota and Sagamu were listed in Ogun State.

The warning also covered Akure, Owo and Okitipupa in Ondo State; Oshogbo, Ile-Ife and Ilesa in Osun State; Ibadan, Ogbomoso and Oyo in Oyo State; and Port Harcourt Urban Core, Bonny, Ahoada and Omoku in Rivers State.

The ministry further designated parts of Adamawa State, the FCT, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states as high-risk areas.

Among the communities listed in the high-risk category are Yola North, Yola South, Mubi and Gurin in Adamawa State; Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Nyanya and Wuse in the FCT; Birnin Kebbi and Argungu in Kebbi State; Bako in Kogi State; and Keffi, Lafia, Karu and Toto in Nasarawa State.

Others include Jos and Jos North in Plateau State, as well as Jalingo, Wukari, Takum, Serti and Karim Lamido in Taraba State.

Issuing a technical advisory, the ministry urged residents and authorities in vulnerable communities to take precautionary measures to minimise the impact of possible flooding.

It stated, “Communities classified as Critical should maintain immediate flood watch, identify evacuation routes, protect vulnerable households and avoid settlement or trading activities within active floodplains, low-lying drain corridors and riverbank areas.”

The ministry added, “Communities classified as High should intensify drainage clearance, monitoring of culverts and stream channels, and community-level reporting of rainfall, ponding and river level changes.”

The warning comes as the rainy season intensifies across the country, raising concerns over possible loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of residents in flood-prone communities if preventive measures are not promptly implemented.