The Federal Government will begin a nationwide flood awareness campaign in May 2025 to educate and sensitise Nigerians on the risks and safety measures related to flooding.
This was announced by Mr. Kunle Awojemila, Deputy Director of the Department of Flood, Erosion Control and Coastal Management at the Federal Ministry of Environment, during a recent interview.
The government has identified about 1,249 communities across 176 Local Government Areas in 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that are likely to experience significant flooding between April and November this year.
Awojemila said, “We are starting the flood awareness sensitisation campaign in the first week of May.
“In the FCT, we will begin in Dutse, then move to areas like Lokogoma, Lugbe, and others, consequently. “Other states will commence their awareness campaigns as well.”
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States at risk
During the official presentation of the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook, Professor Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, named several states as being at risk of flooding. These include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, and Jigawa. Others include Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister highlighted that flooding continues to be one of Nigeria’s most devastating natural disasters. He warned that climate change is making floods more frequent and severe.
Coastal and riverine states—including Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, and Ondo—face particular risk due to rising sea levels and tidal surges. These floods could impact fishing, wildlife habitats, and river transportation.
Last year’s impact
According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), floods in 2024 affected 217 local government areas across 34 states. A total of 1,373,699 people were impacted, with 740,734 displaced and 321 fatalities recorded. Additionally, 2,854 individuals sustained various injuries, and thousands of hectares of farmland were either submerged or completely destroyed by floodwaters.
