The Federal Government will kick off a nationwide flood awareness campaign in May 2025 to educate Nigerians on the dangers of flooding and necessary safety precautions.
This was disclosed by Mr. Kunle Awojemila, Deputy Director at the Department of Flood, Erosion Control, and Coastal Management, under the Federal Ministry of Environment, during a recent interview.
Awojemila stated that the campaign will begin in the first week of May, starting with communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Dutse, Lokogoma, and Lugbe. He also confirmed that other states will launch similar campaigns concurrently.
Over 1,200 Communities at Risk
The Federal Government has identified 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas in 30 states and the FCT as high-risk zones likely to experience significant flooding between April and November 2025.
During the presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, listed the following states as vulnerable:
Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory.
Utsev emphasized that flooding remains one of Nigeria’s most destructive natural disasters, made worse by the growing effects of climate change. Coastal and riverine states—such as Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo—face heightened risk due to rising sea levels and tidal surges, which could disrupt fishing activities, wildlife ecosystems, and inland water transport.
2024 Floods Affected Millions
Data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) revealed that flooding in 2024 affected 217 local government areas across 34 states. A total of 1,373,699 individuals were impacted, with 740,734 displaced and 321 lives lost. Additionally, 2,854 people sustained various injuries, and vast farmlands were submerged or destroyed.
