The Federal Government has raised the alarm over potential flooding in parts of the country, warning that heavy rainfall from Wednesday, July 16 to Sunday, July 20, 2025, could lead to dangerous flood conditions in 38 communities across 11 states.
This early warning came through the National Flood Early Warning Centre, a unit under the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Department of Erosion, Flood, and Coastal Zone Management. The alert, signed by the department’s Director, Usman Bokani, urged residents in the affected areas to stay vigilant and take precautionary measures.
The states flagged in the warning include:
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Adamawa (Mubi)
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Akwa Ibom (Edor, Upenekang, Oron, Eket)
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Borno (Ngala, Maiduguri)
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Bauchi (Azare, Bauchi, Itas, Jama’are, Kafin-Madaki, Jama’a, Kari, Misau)
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Plateau (Jos, Bukuru, Mangu)
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Yobe (Jakusko, Machina, Dapchi)
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Katsina (Daura)
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Kano (Kunchi, Kano, Gezawa, Wudil, Bebeji, Sumaila, Tudun Wada)
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Jigawa (Miga, Gwaram, Diginsa, Ringim, Dutse)
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Cross River (Calabar, Akpap)
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Zamfara (Bungudu, Gusau)
In response to the country’s increasing vulnerability to flooding, the government has taken a long-term step by initiating the National Flood Insurance Policy. This move, first introduced during a technical committee meeting in Abuja in June, is aimed at reducing the devastating impact of flood disasters on individuals and communities.
Mahmud Kambari, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, described the recurring floods as a national emergency that demands bold and immediate action. Represented by Deputy Director Kunle Awojemila, he stressed the need to shift from a reactive approach to a more proactive and sustainable flood management strategy.
He explained that flooding in Nigeria has been worsened by climate change, rapid urbanisation, and weak infrastructure. The proposed flood insurance scheme, he said, is designed to act as a financial cushion for victims, lower the government’s emergency spending, and encourage shared responsibility between government agencies and the private sector.
As rainfall intensifies across the country, Nigerians—especially in the listed areas—are being urged to stay alert, prepare for potential emergencies, and support efforts to build climate resilience in their communities.
