As clouds gather over the Nigerian skies, so does a growing sense of anxiety in hundreds of communities bracing for yet another year of destructive floods.
The Federal Government has sounded the alarm: this year’s rains are expected to be heavier, more intense, and more dangerous than usual.
Thirty states, along with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have been flagged as high-risk zones for both riverine and coastal flooding.
The list of vulnerable states reads like a roll call across every region: from the coastal wetlands of Bayelsa and Cross River to the northern stretches of Jigawa and Yobe, floodwaters threaten lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
At the heart of the warning is the newly released 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), presented Thursday in Abuja by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev.
During the briefing, he stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that sea-level rise and climate change are intensifying both the frequency and severity of flooding across the country.
“In places like Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers, we’re already seeing the early signs,” Utsev said. “Entire communities are at risk, and we must act now.”
The statistics are sobering. According to the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas (LGAs) fall within the high-risk flood zones.
An additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs face moderate flood threats.
This year, NIHSA is shifting its approach. Instead of broad forecasts, the agency is now focusing on community-based flood forecasting, providing more localized and actionable warnings for those in the floodplain.
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“Our goal is simple,” said NIHSA Director-General Umar Mohammed. “Save lives. And to do that, we must meet people where they are, with the information they need to make decisions.”
For residents of flood-prone towns like Isheri and Akute in Ogun State, where the state government has already asked some residents to evacuate, the forecasts are no longer just statistics—they are life-changing warnings.
Permanent Secretary Richard Pheelangwah echoed the human impact behind the forecasts. “This outlook isn’t just about numbers,” he said. “It’s about protecting lives, farms, schools, hospitals, and homes.”
In September 2024, floods caused by a leak in the Alau Dam submerged parts of Maiduguri, displacing hundreds.
That event, experts say, is a glimpse of what might come if swift actions aren’t taken.
The government is urging state and local authorities to act immediately: strengthen drainage systems, clear blocked waterways, and most importantly, educate residents.
But in many vulnerable communities, especially those in rural or low-income areas, preparedness remains low and resources scarce.
As the rainy season looms, the question remains: will the country be ready this time?
Or will thousands once again watch helplessly as the waters rise?