The National Emergency Management Agency has issued an urgent nationwide alert, calling on residents of flood-prone communities to relocate to safer, higher ground immediately as heavy rains intensify across the country.
NEMA Director-General, Zubaida Umar, said the warning is based on updated forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, which indicate a heightened risk of flooding in the coming weeks.
Urgent Relocation Advisory
In a statement released on Saturday, Umar urged Nigerians living in low-lying areas, riverine settlements, and communities along waterways to take proactive steps to protect lives and property.“The current period of heightened rainfall calls for the activation of community-level flood mitigation measures to minimise the impact of flooding,” she said.
She stressed that early evacuation remains the most effective way to prevent avoidable deaths and destruction. Residents were specifically advised to relocate to higher ground whenever there is a threat of flooding and to pay attention to early warning alerts issued by relevant government agencies.
The agency also called on parents to keep children away from flood waters and erosion-prone areas during downpours.
27 States On High Alert
According to NEMA, 27 states are currently at risk. A Flash Flood Risk Advisory covering 1 July to 10 July 2026 placed the following states on red alert: Taraba, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Adamawa, Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Edo, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa.
Earlier assessments from NEMA’s Emergency Operations Centre showed that 27 states have already been impacted this year, with 227,494 persons affected, 32,837 houses damaged, and 16,488 hectares of farmland destroyed.
Kebbi State has been classified among Nigeria’s high flood-risk states for 2026, with projections of significantly higher rainfall than in 2025 and possible flash floods in several communities. The period between July and September was identified as the peak flood season, with the Kebbi River likely to overflow and inundate farmlands and settlements.
What Residents Must Do
NEMA outlined specific safety measures for communities:
Clear drainages: Avoid dumping refuse into drainage channels and waterways to ensure free flow of stormwater.
Avoid floodwaters: Do not walk, drive, or ride through flooded roads. “Once the rainwater gets to half of the wheels it sweeps off your vehicle,” the agency warned.
Secure valuables: Move important documents, valuables and electrical appliances to higher ground ahead of anticipated flooding.
Report emergencies: Promptly report emergency situations to appropriate authorities for swift response.
Emergency lines include 08067715203, 07066836580, 112 and 767.
The DG also urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, and community volunteers to support awareness creation and mobilization efforts aimed at strengthening community preparedness.
Government Response And Preparedness
NEMA said its Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations have been directed to intensify community-based awareness campaigns, strengthen collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies and Local Emergency Management Committees, and coordinate timely search and rescue operations where necessary.
The agency has also developed the 2026 Climate-Related Risk Management, Preparedness, and Mitigation Framework in response to flood forecasts. Through its Flood Early Warning System, NEMA has identified flood risk profiles and produced vulnerability maps for at-risk communities to support targeted disaster risk reduction planning.
In Lagos, the state government has begun demolition of illegal structures and shanties along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to remove obstructions to drainage. Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, attributed recent flooding to flash floods caused by heavy rainfall coinciding with high sea levels.
Why This Year’s Rains Are Riskier
Officials blame a combination of factors for the increased risk. Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of flooding events. Poor drainage infrastructure, urbanization, deforestation, and inadequate waste management also worsen the impact.
NiMet had earlier predicted thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and possible flash floods in Lagos and several other states. NEMA reassured farmers that a temporary dry spell being experienced in some states will soon end, but advised the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.
Final Warning
“Communities at risk of flooding and those living along waterways should relocate to safer, higher grounds ahead of the peak of the rainy season”, Umar reiterated.
With more rains forecast in the coming weeks, NEMA is urging all Nigerians in vulnerable areas to act now, rather than wait for disaster to strike. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to continuous monitoring and to providing humanitarian assistance to affected persons in partnership with SEMAs.
