The federal government has identified 148 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 31 states as facing severe flooding risks from April to November 2024. Additionally, 249 LGAs in 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are categorized as moderate flood risk areas. Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, highlighted this during a briefing in Abuja.
The government has informed 31 governors about the impending floods to help them prepare and mitigate the impact in their respective states. The states at high flood risk include Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe. Flash floods are expected in urban areas nationwide, with significant impacts on the population, agriculture, livelihoods, livestock, infrastructure, and the environment.
Certain LGAs will face high flood risks in different periods of the year, with coastal flooding anticipated in states like Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo due to rising sea levels and tidal surges affecting fishing, wildlife, and river navigation. The government has urged swift action by governors to address the forecasted flooding and prevent potential chaos.
