Communities across the Niger Delta have been placed on a critical flood-risk list as the Federal Government warns of possible flooding between September 27 and October 10, 2026.
The alert covers communities in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Abia, Imo and Ondo, alongside other parts of Nigeria.
Issued by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre under the Federal Ministry of Environment, the advisory warned that rainfall, saturated soil, rapid surface runoff, overloaded drainage systems and rising river levels could trigger flooding during the forecast period.
Residents in critical-risk communities were urged to monitor conditions closely, identify safe evacuation routes and make preparations to protect vulnerable household members and essential property.
The centre warned against using active floodplains, wetlands, riverbanks and low-lying drainage corridors for housing, trading, parking or storing goods.
It also urged residents to follow evacuation instructions from the authorities, keep children away from floodwater and avoid walking or driving through flowing water.
The advisory was signed by Usman Abdullahi Bokani, Director of the ministry’s Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.
The critical-risk list also includes communities in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo, bringing the number of states with communities in that category to 24.
In Lagos, the listed locations include Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Lekki, Ojo, Orile Agege, Surulere, Agege, Alimosho and Kosofe.
The Ekiti locations include Ado-Ekiti, Ijero, Ikere, Ekiti Southwest, Ekiti East, Ise/Orun and Ekiti West.
Parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were placed in the High Risk category. The listed areas include Abuja Municipal, Abaji, Asokoro, Bwari, Garki, Gwarinpa, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kubwa, Maitama, Nyanya and Wuse.
Communities in Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba, Adamawa and Kebbi were also classified as high risk.
The Moderate Risk Watchlist covers communities in Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa.
The categories apply to listed communities, with some states appearing under more than one risk classification.
For high-risk areas, the centre called for intensified drainage clearance and monitoring of culverts and watercourses. Authorities and residents were also urged to report heavy rainfall, waterlogging, dam releases and rising river levels promptly.
The advisory recommended keeping essential medicines, important documents, food and safe drinking water ready.
The centre said the forecast should be considered alongside current rainfall, drainage conditions, river levels and official emergency directives. Reports from state governments and community representatives would help update its flood-risk database.
