Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
The federal government has said a seven-day high flood will hit Imo, Cross River, Lagos and 12 other states, and warned the residents of the affected areas to relocate.
The Director General (DG) and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NiHSA), Mr. Umar Mohammed, made the disclosure at the weekend in a National Flood Advisory, saying the flood is expected to occur from September 19 to 25, 2026.
Mohammed said schools, healthcare facilities, markets, farms and religious buildings, among others, will be affected.
He also called on affected state governments to urgently move their people to safer and higher ground ahead of the flooding.
He said, “High riverine flood risk forecast for the next 7 days across Imo, Cross River and 13 other states. Rising river stages are expected to cause flooding.
“Communities on the floodplain should prepare to move to higher ground. Stations: Obubra on the Cross River, Itigidi on the Cross River, and Epento on the Cross River.”
According to the advisory, several communities and critical facilities across the affected states are exposed to the risk of flooding.
In Imo State, the affected local government areas are Aboh-Mba, Ahizu-Mb, Ehime-Mb, Ezinihit, Ideato No, Ihitte/U and Ikeduru.
The agency identified 958 communities, 1,022 schools, 553 healthcare facilities, 161 markets and 198 religious buildings as exposed to the flood risk.
In Cross River, the affected local government areas include Abi, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Biase, Calabar, Calabar South, Ikom and Obubra.
NiHSA listed 2,471 communities, 703 schools, 344 healthcare facilities, 145 markets, 453 religious buildings and 854 hectares of farmland as exposed.
The agency also identified Abakaliki, Afikpo, Afikpo South, Ebonyi, Ezza North and Ezza as affected local government areas in Ebonyi State, with 2,574 communities, 1,064 schools, 422 healthcare facilities, 480 markets, 629 religious buildings and 1,882 hectares of farmland exposed.
In Benue State, Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum are among the affected local government areas.
The exposure includes 303 communities, 100 schools, 48 healthcare facilities, 32 markets, 151 religious buildings and 55 hectares of farmland.
For Anambra State, the affected areas include Aguata, Anambra East, Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka North, Awka South and Ayamelum.
The advisory put the number of exposed communities at 1,314, with 1,308 schools, 1,089 healthcare facilities, 280 markets, 610 religious buildings and 1,529 hectares of farmland also at risk.
In Akwa Ibom, the affected local government areas are Abak, Eket, Etinan, Ibeno, Ibesikpo Asutan, Ibiono Ibom, Ika and Ikono.
NiHSA identified 249 communities, 323 schools, 211 healthcare facilities, 74 markets and 289 religious buildings as exposed to the anticipated flooding.
Meanwhile, the agency identified Edo, Bayelsa, Enugu, Kogi, Delta, Abia, Taraba and Rivers among other states expected to experience severe impacts from the forecast flooding.