Seventeen Nigerian states are on a new flood alert, with authorities warning it’s residents to evacuate before it’s too late. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) issued the medium flood risk advisory from July 21 to 27, after river levels at various monitoring stations went past safety thresholds.
The affected states include Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe, and Zamfara. Bauchi State faces the highest exposure to flooding, with approximately 1,840 communities, 145 schools, and 101 health facilities at risk.
The NIHSA’s Director-General, Umar Mohammed, said earlier that 16 gauging stations nationwide are recording high water levels, with river stages at three key stations already exceeding warning limits. He has since advised and directed NEMA, state emergency agencies, and local leaders to begin immediate evacuations in vulnerable communities.
Residents of the affected states have also been warned against driving, walking, or riding through flooded roads and waterways. With the rainy season intensifying, authorities are urging families to pre-position and store down food, water, and medical supplies before the risk window closes.
