NiHSA Warns Of High Flood Risk In 15 States, Calls for Urgent Precautionary Measures
By Sunday Etuka
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) has raised a high flood risk alert covering 15 states between September 19 and 25, 2026, warning of rising river levels and an increased risk of riverine flooding.
The alert, designated NFA-2026-262, was issued by the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiHSA, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, who identified nine river stations at risk, including Obubra, Itigidi and Epento on the Cross River, as locations requiring close monitoring.
Mohammed urged state governments, local government councils, emergency management authorities, traditional and community leaders, and residents in vulnerable areas to take immediate steps to protect lives, property and livelihoods.
The agency’s assessment shows significant exposure of population and infrastructure across the affected states. In Cross River State alone, it identified 2,471 communities, 703 schools, 344 health facilities, 145 markets, 453 religious centres and 854 hectares of farmland within flood-prone zones.
Other states covered in the alert include Imo, Ebonyi, Benue, Anambra and Akwa Ibom, along with nine additional states detailed in NiHSA’s state-level reports.
The NiHSA boss called on residents in flood-prone communities to heed the warning and act ahead of possible flooding.
He advised authorities and communities to relocate people, livestock and valuables from vulnerable floodplains to higher ground where necessary, and to activate community-based early-warning systems.
He further urged residents to monitor NiHSA’s flood advisories and river-level updates regularly, avoid crossing flooded roads, bridges or fast-moving water either on foot or by vehicle, and pre-position relief materials, safe drinking water, water-treatment supplies and first-aid items.
Mohammed also advised identifying safe shelters for possible temporary evacuation, clearing blocked drainage channels and river outlets where it is safe to do so, and avoiding construction or habitation in vulnerable floodplain areas.
He stressed that early action and strict adherence to official flood warnings remain critical to reducing the risk of loss of lives, property and livelihoods.
NiHSA said it would continue monitoring hydrological conditions and river levels across the affected areas and would issue further updates as necessary, urging all stakeholders and members of the public to remain vigilant and rely on official agency advisories for timely flood information.
