FG Names Kogi, Anambra, Delta, and Four Other States Facing Immediate Riverine Flood Threat

The Federal Government has issued a critical flood alert for seven Nigerian states, urging residents in riverine communities to evacuate immediately as water levels along the major River Niger and River Benue continue to rise dangerously.

The warning, delivered by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), highlights the severe threat of riverine and localized flooding in Kogi, Anambra, and Delta states, which lie along the path of the converging rivers. Additionally, the agency noted that Benue, Adamawa, Niger, and Bayelsa states remain at high risk.

The Director General of NiHSA, Umar Muhammed, disclosed the latest hydrological monitoring data at a press briefing in Abuja, underscoring the potential for a catastrophic end to the 2025 rainy season. “At the moment, our monitoring shows high water levels along parts of the Niger and Benue Rivers, with the possibility of localized flooding in Kogi, Anambra, and Delta states,” he stated.

NiHSA’s warning comes despite the approaching end of the rainy season in most of the country, emphasizing that the sheer volume of water in the primary rivers poses a sustained and high-level threat in the coming weeks. The agency’s assessment also revealed that floodwater intrusion has led to contamination in shallow wells in some areas, necessitating urgent efforts to provide safe drinking water to affected communities.

State governments and residents in vulnerable areas have been strongly advised to activate contingency plans. Residents along the riverbanks are urged to remain on high alert, move their families and belongings to higher ground, and utilize available designated flood camps to safeguard lives and property. Local authorities are also called upon to intensify sensitization efforts and ensure the clearing of drainage systems to mitigate the impact of the impending floods.