By Nathaniel Irobi
Barely weeks after the last seasonal rainfall forecast, the Federal Ministry of Environment has sounded a fresh alarm over an imminent flooding threat across ten states, warning citizens and authorities to brace for impact between April 13 and April 17, 2026.
The warning, issued through the National Flood Early Warning Centre (NFEWS), attributes the heightened risk to a combination of sustained downpours already recorded in several ecological zones and forecasts of intensified rainfall over the coming days. Officials noted that climate variability—marked by unpredictable and extreme weather shifts—is now tangibly altering traditional rainfall patterns across the country.
According to the advisory, states likely to bear the brunt of the deluge include Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, and Taraba. Within these states, the ministry singled out specific communities where terrain, poor drainage, and historical vulnerability could turn moderate rainfall into disaster.
In Adamawa, rural farming settlements such as Ganye and Gbalji are on notice, while in Enugu, the university town of Nsukka—known for its hilly topography—could witness runoff surges. Kaduna State faces a broader spread of risk, with Buruku, Kachia, Kaduna metropolis, and Kafanchan all listed as hotspots.
The middle-belt region, long accustomed to seasonal floods, is again in the crosshairs. Ibaji in Kogi State, a low-lying area near the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers, is considered particularly precarious. Similarly, Bode-Sadu and Ilorin in Kwara State have been flagged, following past incidents where overflow from streams and blocked drains caused significant property damage.
Niger State is not spared. Authorities are watching Chanchaga, Minna, and Sarkin Pawa closely—areas where rapid urbanisation has often outpaced drainage infrastructure. In the southwest, Osun State communities including Ilesa, Iragbiji, Osogbo, and Otan Ayegbaju are advised to prepare for flash floods.
However, the most detailed warnings concern Oyo State, especially the sprawling city of Ibadan. The ministry listed no fewer than seven high-risk zones within the ancient city: Apata, Bodija, Challenge, Eleyele, Moniya, Odo-Ona, and Ojoo. These areas have a troubled history with flooding, largely due to blocked drainage channels, encroachment on waterways, and poor waste disposal practices that choke runoff routes.
Further north, Bukuru in Plateau State—a commercial hub on the Jos Plateau—and Serti in Taraba State complete the list of endangered locations.
In a statement endorsed by the Director of the Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Usman Abdullahi Bokani, the ministry stressed that this is not a routine seasonal alert but a targeted warning triggered by real-time weather data. “The predicted flooding could disrupt livelihoods, damage infrastructure, and pose grave risks to lives,” Bokani warned.
To mitigate the impact, the government has issued a checklist of immediate precautionary measures. Residents in affected communities are urged to clear drainage systems and canals around their homes, avoid any construction or habitation along waterways, and secure valuables against potential water damage. More critically, families in low-lying areas should identify safe, elevated evacuation routes and be ready to move at short notice.
The ministry further directed state governments, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and local authorities to activate contingency plans immediately. This includes prepositioning rescue boats, sandbags, and medical supplies, as well as setting up temporary shelters in safer zones.
Beyond physical preparations, the government called for a sustained public awareness drive, urging community and religious leaders to amplify safety messages. “Early warning must lead to early action,” the advisory read, emphasising that coordination between federal and state agencies could mean the difference between a manageable event and a catastrophe.
Environmental experts have linked the growing frequency of such warnings to broader climatic shifts. Warmer air temperatures hold more moisture, leading to shorter but far more intense rainfall events—a phenomenon increasingly evident across Nigeria’s savannah and forest zones alike. The ministry acknowledged that climate variability is no longer a distant threat but a present reality, demanding a permanent shift in how the nation plans its urban spaces and water management systems.
As the forecast window opens, residents across the affected states are advised to monitor local radio and emergency service alerts closely, avoid driving through flooded roads, and move children and the elderly to higher ground when necessary.
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