The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a flood warning covering Lagos, Ogun, and 25 other states across the country, urging residents and state governments to take immediate precautions.
The agency released the alert on Monday, flagging high flood risk across a wide stretch of the country as the rainy season intensifies. NiMet directed state emergency management agencies, local government officials, and residents in low-lying areas to act without delay.
The warning spans states across multiple geopolitical zones, with riverine and coastal communities drawing the sharpest concern. Lagos and Ogun states feature prominently on the high-risk list, a designation tied to their dense populations, longstanding drainage problems, and closeness to major water bodies.
NiMet cautioned that prolonged rainfall hitting already rising river levels could produce flash floods and structural damage across affected communities. Farmlands along floodplains, the agency added, are also sitting in the path of significant risk.
Residents in flood-prone areas were told to monitor water levels, avoid building near riverbanks, and relocate temporarily if directed by local authorities. NiMet also called on state agencies to clear blocked drainage channels before conditions worsen.
The advisory did not stop at the South. Several North Central and Northwest states also made the flood risk list, a detail that underlines just how wide a sweep this season’s weather pattern is cutting across the country.
NiMet traced the elevated flood risk directly to above-normal rainfall recorded across multiple weather stations, pointing to conditions that go beyond a localized weather event. The agency also cited the seasonal release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon as a contributing factor for states along the River Benue and Niger corridors.
The Lagdo Dam discharge has triggered devastating flooding in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and southern states in previous years. NiMet’s early warning is an attempt to give state governments and communities more lead time to respond.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has not yet issued a formal response to Monday’s advisory, but state-level emergency bodies in Lagos and Ogun are expected to activate flood response protocols following the alert.
Residents of Ogun State living close to the Ogun River were specifically flagged as vulnerable. The river has a record of overflowing during peak rainy season, affecting farmlands and residential areas in several local government areas.
What Residents in Affected States Should Do Now
NiMet’s advisory included practical guidance for both individuals and government actors. The agency urged residents to store important documents and valuables above ground level, avoid driving through flooded roads, and stay updated through official weather bulletins.
State governments were asked to preposition relief materials and identify evacuation centers in high-risk communities. NiMet also called on the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to coordinate with relevant agencies on dam management ahead of peak flood season.
The agency emphasized that the risk window is not limited to a single week. Flooding could persist and worsen through the months of July, August, and September, which historically represent the peak of Nigeria’s rainy season in the south.
NiMet reiterated that its Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, issued earlier in the year, had already flagged most of the 27 states now named in the flood warning. The agency said the current advisory is consistent with those earlier projections.
Emergency Agencies and Local Governments on Alert
State emergency management agencies in flood-prone zones have been placed on standby. Officials in Lagos State have previously invested in flood control infrastructure, but low-lying areas in Badagry, Epe, and parts of Lagos Island remain exposed during heavy rain events.
In Ogun State, communities along the river basin have experienced repeated displacement in past flood seasons. Residents there have long called for more permanent flood mitigation measures from the state government.
NiMet urged Nigerians not to treat the warning as routine. The combination of heavy local rainfall, upstream river pressure, and inadequate drainage in many urban centers creates compounding risk this season.
Anyone seeking updated forecasts can access NiMet’s official platforms directly. The agency said it will continue to issue situation reports as conditions develop across the 27 affected states.
