No fewer than 23 people have reportedly died from the heavy rains that triggered flash flooding across multiple communities in Adamawa State on Sunday, according to the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.
The flash flooding which affected five wards in Yola South Local Government Area in Adamawa State, submerged homes, destroyed infrastructure, killed livestock, and rendered entire neighbourhoods inaccessible.
TheFact Daily gathered that over 550 households were also affected, comprising over 3,000 displaced people across Sabon Pegi, Shagari Phase 2, Lakare, and other settlements, who have been profiled by the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (AdSEMA).
A report by the mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) blamed the floods on poor drainage system in the affected areas.
The report said authorities have urged residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate to higher ground, warning of more rain in the coming days. Meanwhile, it said the UN OCHA is supporting the government to mobilize sector partners to assess preparedness.
“Sector partners are assessing their ability to preposition critical supplies. UNICEF from its Bauchi field office is supporting the flood response having prepositioned essential supplies in Adamawa State, including 2,000 Cholera kits, 500 water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) dignity kits, 2 million Aqua Tabs for water purification, and 50 drums of High-Test Hypochlorite (HTH) for water chlorination and disinfection. These supplies are yet to be deployed to support the affected communities,” it said.
However, it said the Adamawa State government has established temporary shelters for the displaced people.
“To meet immediate needs, a government-run communal kitchen has been established at the temporary shelter at the Aliyu Mustapha College providing hot meals to displaced families.
“The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has delivered 400 dignity kits to the camp, containing essential nonfood items such as mats, clothing, detergents, soaps, and hygiene products tailored to the needs of women and girls.
“A Response Tracking Matrix has also been introduced to streamline coordination and ensure efficient aid distribution,” the report added.
Recall that the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), unveiled on the 10th of April 2025 predicted flooding in Adamawa State.
The 2025 Annual Flood Outlook forecast shows that 1,249 communities in 176 Local Government Areas in 33 States and FCT fall within the High Flood Risk Areas, while 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs in 31 States of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory falls within the Moderate Flood Risk Areas.
It further revealed that the High Flood Risk States comprise Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara.
It also noted that the Flood risks across Nigeria have been categorized into four main types including the High Flood Risk Areas in 657 communities of 52 LGAs between April–June; 544 communities in 142 LGAs between July–September as well as 484 communities in 56 LGAs between October–November.
The Outlook also added that Moderate Flood Risk Areas are projected in 445 communities in 116 LGAs (24 states) between April–June:) and 1,458 communities in 271 LGAs between July–September in addition to 1,473 communities in 171 LGAs (26 states) between October–November.
The category of Flash and Urban Flooding were Projected in major cities due to heavy rainfall and poor drainage and affected cities include Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and others.
