As the rainy season unfolds across Nigeria with frightening episodes of flooding, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) had issued repeated early warnings earlier in the year regarding potential floods in several states, especially Niger.
The destructive floods in Niger State reinforce NiMET’s stark prediction that 13 Northern states may experience widespread flooding in 2025.
“We expect a normal to below-normal annual rainfall across most regions, compared to historical averages. However, heavy downpours in May and June may result in flash floods, especially in coastal urban centers,” NiMET cautioned.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev, also echoed this alert, highlighting that 1,249 towns across 176 local governments in 30 states — including areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) — are vulnerable to floods.
In 2024, many areas, particularly in the North, were severely impacted by floods. Notably, heavy rain damaged parts of Borno, Maiduguri, and Kano.
Jigawa was hit especially hard, as intense rainfall swept through homes and farmlands.
For 2025, government forecasts warn that the following states are at risk of flooding:
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 FCT.
Data from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) supports these findings, indicating that dam overflow risks are growing. This is of particular concern in Niger State, which is home to the Shiroro and Kainji dams — both known for past downstream flooding.
Tragically, more than 151 lives were lost during the Niger flood on Wednesday night. As rescue operations continue, the death toll may rise.
Is Government Action Proactive or Reactive?
Although both the Federal Government and Niger State authorities acknowledged the flood warnings from NiMET, little has been publicly disclosed regarding preventive strategies to lessen the effects of flooding.
In an interview with LMSINT MEDIA, Umar Sale Anka, a council member of the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (IEPN), said the recent disaster in Mokwa, Niger State—which claimed over 150 lives and submerged entire villages—highlights the deep-rooted issues plaguing Nigeria’s emergency response systems.
He emphasized, “Despite timely alerts from NiMET and NIHSA, the response was delayed due to institutional inefficiency, resource limitations, personnel shortages, and inadequate funding, particularly at the state level.”
Anka also blamed deforestation, noting that forests, which previously served as natural flood buffers, have been wiped out, allowing water to surge unimpeded into residential areas.
Furthermore, he pointed out that even when relief materials are available, insecurity often hinders access, putting both humanitarian organizations and technical response teams at risk.
“Cultural attachments to ancestral homes and spiritual beliefs complicate relocation efforts,” he added. “Even when warned, many families are unwilling to evacuate due to emotional ties to their land, sacred spaces, and family burial grounds. To them, relocation is not just physical — it’s a profound cultural dislocation.”
These social dynamics, according to Anka, significantly challenge emergency managers, who must consider logistical and cultural factors when planning flood responses.
“In this tragic mix of natural disaster, environmental degradation, social complexity, and delayed governance, the most vulnerable Nigerians continue to suffer the brunt,” he concluded.
Still, Anka asserted that early and strategic intervention could have greatly minimized the disaster’s scale.
Kano’s Strategic Response
In an interview with LMSINT MEDIA, the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) stated it is working alongside National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to prevent severe flooding during the rainy season.
The SEMA Executive Secretary, Isyaku Kubarachi, previously confirmed that floods have already occurred in Madobi, Shanono, and Tudun Wada. Meetings have reportedly been scheduled with stakeholders, including NEMA, to strategize.
However, during his conversation with LMSINT MEDIA, Kubarachi only mentioned, “We would hold stakeholders meeting to address the issue,” without offering further details.
He noted that the media would also be involved in these meetings, which are expected to help mitigate flood risks in Kano State.
- NiMET Seasonal Rainfall Prediction 2025
- UNDRR: Urban Flood Preparedness
- World Bank on Nigeria’s Flood Risks
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